Simple ways to deal with winter odour issues in portable toilets
The temperatures are beginning to drop and daylight starts to retract, it becomes obvious that winter is drawing ever so close. Regardless of the change in temperatures and visibility, portable toilets are still in demand for a variety of events and construction projects. Although more prominent on building sites than outdoor events. winter descends and the temperatures drop, the use of portable toilets on construction sites and at outdoor events becomes more challenging.
Portable toilets are often hired throughout the year for a variety of occasions such as sporting events, festivals, campgrounds, corporate events, construction sites and a host of many others. While the cold winds of winter are building momentum, construction projects are still ongoing across the country and the site engineers and workers are confronted with the same challenges such as such as cold stress, slippery surfaces, reduced productivity, protective gear challenges, limited daylight and delays in schedule.
Odour is a common feature in most toilets and communal ones such as mobile facilities are not exempted. We’ve published different articles that touched on odours but this piece would look at
mitigating or dealing with this unpleasant smell in the cold winter period. Some of these strategies can be down to the design of the mobile units and other times due to its actual usage. It is common to find portable toilets on these sites and the use of these comes with their set challenges, especially in freezing temperatures. Let’s look at some of the difficulties in using a portable toilet and some of the effective ways to deal with these challenges. Let’s have a quick look at these useful; tips.
Different ways of reducing odour in portable toilets during winter
Adequate ventilation system: Odour grows more powerful when trapped in a space or building. Have you ever used a toilet facility that had no ventilation feature? The odour usually intensifies the longer you remain in the stall or unit. The smell tends to stick with you for a few minutes after leaving the unit. Poorly ventilated mobile toilets would always have a stronger smell, especially during the cold spells of winter. During winter, it’s common to keep the doors closed to retain warmth, but this can trap odours inside. In the process of keeping the toilet warm, odours are given a unique opportunity to thrive. To address this challenge, it is important to hire mobile toilets that have a ventilation system that works and ensure doors are regularly opened to allow for the needed disappearance of the smell.
The effective use of biodegradable deodorisers:
Toilet deodorisers come in different types but it is important to seek one specifically designed with capabilities to handle the unpleasant smell that could be generated during the colder months. These substances have been properly formulated to function effectively at low temperatures. They are usually environmentally safe and very effective portable restroom deodorants. When applied in a portable toilet, they naturally break down waste and toilet paper within the tank and leave it in a cleaner condition. Thus, ensuring the mobile facilities remain cleaner and reducing the level of odour that lingers in these units.
1，Encourage hand washing among users: Hiring handwashing stations will encourage users to wash
their hands more frequently and reduce the amount of odour generated in the portable restroom.
For example, the TOPPLA’s TPW-L03 portable sink could serve this purpose as it features two hand
washing stations, foot-powered pumps, two soap dispenser and two paper towel holders
2，Properly serviced portable toilets: Before hiring a portable toilet, it is important to accept units that have been thoroughly cleaned and serviced. In addition, the toilet hire company should have meticulously checked the units for any leaks or gaps that may contribute to the release of unpleasant smell.
3，Provide portable toilet etiquette lessons to potential users: Learning is a lifelong process and some toilet users may have toilet bad habits that need to be shed to enjoy the benefits of fresh toilet facilities. The toilet users can be reminded to avoid flushing items such as paper towels to prevent the heightening and the spread of the odour.
Overall, the constant presence of unpleasant smells in some portable toilets negatively impacts the experience of the user. Adopting the appropriate solution is essential in ensuring the pleasant use of portable toilet units is maintained at most times.
In addition to odour issues, there still some other issues when use the portable toilet in winter:
The average weight of most portable toilets is 87 kg and it could be considered lightweight during a winter storm. These cold winds can make using a portable toilet an uncomfortable experience with shaky effects and frightening noise generated from all angles. Erecting wind barriers can shield users from the harsh elements of positioning the units where there are some form of shields or shelter will ensure the user has a great toilet experience.
Wet and snowy weather conditions can create a temporary unequal surface with erosion or snow residue. The site manager can effectively work with the toilet hire company to identify and position the units on stable and level ground to prevent tipping, especially in icy conditions
Daylight in midsummer is around 18 hours and this drops down to 6.5 hours in midwinter. It is almost a reduction of daylight by 12.5 hours. Reduced daylight hours during winter can make using portable toilets in the dark a challenge. Hiring portable toilets with adequate lighting is essential to ensure the safe and convenient use of these units, Construction projects have to continue through the winter months to ensure deadlines are met and sufficient housing, infrastructures or social amenities are provided to people. The challenges of remaining on the set project schedule or timeline are ever-present and overcoming these is reliant on several factors. The sufficient provision of the appropriate portable toilet is important to ensuring the safety and productivity of workers. Using mobile toilets during these cold and icy conditions has their own constraints and taking steps to address the challenges presented can immensely improve the experience for workers and ensure that sanitation remains a top priority.