On my way. ?instant w/heater, compost toilet? (how much, house)

[nowhereatoll]

thanks mdand3boys and yes I like their prices on both the w/heaters and compost (rv) toilets. I can make my own compost setup with an rv toilet.
Thanks hotzcatz and OpenD for the island water spigot locatiions. I got one of those 300 gal caged containers ;>/
I've already planned on a wood stove in the house. And some fleece, thermals, hot woman.
terracore; like price, but will probably spill for the larger one that can be plumbed in permanent. About 220 for that one! Amazon will be my best friend.

[nowhereatoll]

BTW I have had previous experience with the instant water heaters, they seemed to get plugged quickly with salts, scale. Is that still the case with the new ones, any one with long term experience? Leilaniguy?

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by nowhereatoll

BTW I have had previous experience with the instant water heaters, they seemed to get plugged quickly with salts, scale. Is that still the case with the new ones, any one with long term experience? Leilaniguy?

Rainwater has no salts or minerals. Matter of fact, some people on catchment use nutritional mineral supplements to avoid depletion in the body.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by nowhereatoll

thanks mdand3boys and yes I like their prices on both the w/heaters and compost (rv) toilets. I can make my own compost setup with an rv toilet.

Sure, you can even make your own with a bucket and sawdust, but that doesn't mean it will pass muster with the building inspector. The expectation is that you will use a rental toilet service while you are under construction, and they can shut you down until you comply.

Thanks hotzcatz and OpenD for the island water spigot locatiions. I got one of those 300 gal caged containers ;>/

In the industry it's called a tote. Keep in mind that a 330 gallon tote full of water weighs over 2,500 pounds. There are a couple of folks I've seen who only fill them halfway due to the weight.

I've already planned on a wood stove in the house.

One of my neighbors owns the fireplace store in Hilo. There's another one in Waimea that regularly advertises to beat his prices.

And some fleece, thermals, hot woman.

Electric blankets are also popular in the area.

[nowhereatoll]

Bringing eblankets. Course need power for that, will get commencing on temporary power hookup this week as well as renewing building permit (crossed fingers). Fireplace store is a good lead, OpenD; what brand is popular there, and efficient; maybe wood and other fuels combined. I guess I should get the name of that store and see him myself, thanx for the tip.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by nowhereatoll

Bringing eblankets. Course need power for that, will get commencing on temporary power hookup this week as well as renewing building permit (crossed fingers).

Well, this time of year I don't think you have any worries about blankets, other than maybe a summerweight light thermal for cold snaps. Mosquitoes are more likely to be an issue.

Fireplace store is a good lead, OpenD; what brand is popular there, and efficient; maybe wood and other fuels combined. I guess I should get the name of that store and see him myself, thanx for the tip.

Heck if I know. I remember really liking the Jotul, I think it was, with green soapstone sides in one printmaker's house on the Holiday art tour. And I remember another is a LOPI, because I kept thinking it should should be LODI. And a Vermont Castings and a bunch of who knows what.

Anyway, store 1 is Fireplaces & Home Center, on the bayfront in Hilo toward the west end, been in business 35 years, seems to run to the high end. Bring money. fireplacehawaii.com

Store 2 is Hawaii Fireplaces in Uilani Plaza, on Hwy 19 in Waimea. Opened in 2011, advertises he will "beat any deal," seems a little more down to earth. hawaiifireplaces.com

And there are used ones around, but if I was buying I'd get a new one, latest design, because they use far less fuel.

As far as firewood, it's readily available and it's fairly cheap because 'olala forest is so close and lots of folks harvest firewood for side money. Ohia is most common, and is best for a banked fire that will burn all night. Kiawe is a mesquite that burns hotter, but faster.

Good luck.

[mwakio1]

Hey nowhere atoll,
I'm moving to the big Island in a couple of months and would be interested in learning how things worked out for you, particularly with shipping water containers with household goods. Also, did you go with a composting toilet or a more water based system?

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by mwakio1

Hey nowhere atoll,
I'm moving to the big Island in a couple of months and would be interested in learning how things worked out for you, particularly with shipping water containers with household goods. Also, did you go with a composting toilet or a more water based system?

We'll never know. He/she hasn't posted anything here since April 2014.

[hotzcatz]

But you could start a new thread and ask all the questions again. There have been changes since then, one of the biggest is no more cesspools and septic tanks are now required instead.

[terracore]

Generally, only people with unpermitted systems have a composting toilet. As I understand it, a septic system is required for handling the gray water anyway, so a composting toilet has all the inconvenience of emptying and maintenance, and none of the costs savings of a regular toilet.