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2024-10-11

Autumn Checklist

Shutting down your cabin and Separett toilet for the season


As autumn approaches and temperatures drop, it’s time for many to close their cabins and prepare them for the autumn and winter months. It’s important to consider safety and damage prevention measures. One might not reflect on the fact that many cabins today are much more comfortably equipped than in the past. Remember to put away valuables so they are not visible or take them home to your permanent residence.


In this article, we have compiled a checklist with our best tips and advice to ensure your cabin is safe and protected during the cold seasons.


Good luck!

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To prepare your cabin for winter, start by inspecting and repairing the roof and cleaning gutters to prevent water damage. Shut off and drain the water system to avoid freezing issues, following any insurance guidelines.

Inside, remove all food to deter pests, clean thoroughly, and unplug electronics to protect against power surges. Maintain a low level of heat to prevent freezing and ensure proper ventilation to avoid moisture buildup.

Securely lock all entry points and consider taking fabrics home or storing them in sealed containers. Finally, unplug all appliances to reduce fire risk, ensuring your cabin remains safe until your return.


The toilet

It’s time for the Separett toilet! There are a few extra steps to take as your toilet will be shut down for an extended period. The most important thing is always to follow the recommendations that Separett has for each product, to avoid issues such as frost damage or a frozen urine drain.


If you have a composting toilet

We recommend that the fan is on all the time, even if you will be away for a longer period. The toilet and fan benefit from the fan being on, as it keeps the toilet area/house dry and extends the fan’s lifespan. Separett Villa consumes 0.06kWh over 24H, but if the fan must be turned off, cleaning is particularly important to avoid bad odors and flies coming in and laying eggs.


1. Unplug the cord to turn off the toilet. If you need to turn off the fan

2. Put the lid on the latrine container and lift it out of the toilet or empty the container and put in a new bag. This is to ensure that smells do not spread

3. Clean the toilet thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean the latrine container and urine hose/urine container

4. Clean the fan. If you need to turn off the fan, give it a thorough cleaning


Urine freezes at about -5ºC, so if the toilet is to be used in winter, ensure that the urine drain slopes all the way. We recommend an external urine drain that is Ø50 mm. The larger dimension is to minimize the risk of the urine drain freezing. It is also possible to insulate the parts of the urine pipe that are outdoors and pour a bit of T-spirit in the urine bowl when the toilet is left before storage.

If you have a urine container, it should be cleaned during breaks in toilet visits. Fill about ¼ of the urine container with water, put on the lid and shake vigorously to clean the inside of the container. Then pour out the water. You can also use environmentally friendly cleaning products to remove any smell.


If you have an incinerating toilet

Our incinerating toilets consume about 0.4kWh over 24H in standby. Each time you turn off the toilet, over a weekend or a longer period, the following steps should be carried out to avoid cold drafts:


1. Turn off the power switch on the back and unplug the power cord. If your toilet has two power switches, both should be turned off, otherwise, there is a risk that the battery will drain.


2. Separate the toilet from the ventilation pipe and plug in the ventilation pipe/chimney. Use either a cover plug for Ø110 mm (item no. 1268) or a similar item.


This protects the toilet from moisture that might penetrate and damage the electrical components in the toilet and prevents cold air from entering the space where the toilet is located.

3. Clean the toilet thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean the ash tray.


4.  The battery in the FAMILY should not be left uncharged for more than 3 months. We recommend maintenance by charging your battery every eight months during long-term storage; then plug in, turn on both power switches, and let the toilet run for about 8 hours.


Cleaning the ash tray:


1. Remove and empty the ash tray

2. Pour 1L of water directly into the ash pot (without a bag)

3. Replace the ash pot in the toilet

4. Run a large combustion program (without a bag)


This makes the deposits in the ash tray loosen more easily and the steam that passes through the toilet and ventilation pipe facilitates the cleaning of the entire toilet.

After completing the above steps, your toilet is ready to be stored. For more detailed information on cleaning your incinerating toilet, as well as more product-specific information, you can find it under “maintenance & cleaning” for each product. You can also find the information in our film archive


Closing

Did everything go well? Wonderful! When you have gone through these points, your toilet is ready to be shut down in a safe and secure manner for the autumn and winter months. By taking necessary precautions, you can avoid potential damage and problems and ensure that your toilet is ready to welcome you back when spring comes again. You can be sure that the toilet has been left in top condition!