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Hunting camp: will a porta potty freeze solid in October?

Luis A.asked 0 viewsHome Renovations & Long-termWinterizationLong term rentalCold weatherStandard unitHunting camp

I run a hunting camp in Montana, up in the mountains outside Bozeman. We have a crew of about 10 people for a week in mid-October, no alcohol, just basic camp meals. The ground is uneven, rocky, but a truck can get to the site. Nights drop well below freezing by then. I'm looking at renting a standard portable toilet for the week. I need to know if the unit will freeze solid and become unusable, or if there's a way to keep it working. Should I ask the rental company for a winterized unit? What do they do to prevent freezing?

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Sam O.Portland, OR

A standard portable toilet will not freeze solid in October if the rental company adds antifreeze to the holding tank. For a crew of 10 people for a week, one standard unit meets the OSHA construction site minimum of one toilet for 20 or fewer workers. The rental company will handle the winterization. You should ask them for a winterized unit.

Operators prevent freezing by adding a brine or non-toxic antifreeze solution to the holding tank at delivery. This lowers the freezing point of the liquid waste. Since your camp has no flushing toilets or handwash stations with fresh water tanks, which are more prone to freezing, the standard unit is a good choice. The uneven, rocky ground is fine as long as the driver can place the unit on relatively level ground for stability.

Tell the company your dates and that the site experiences freezing nights. They will schedule a service visit after your week is over to pump the unit. Weekly service is standard, so for a one-week rental, you likely only need delivery and pickup. The cost is driven by the rental duration, the delivery distance to your mountain site, and the winterization service.

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