Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is not a comprehensive list, it contains common questions about installation and usage. If you have any questions, check your owner’s manual for more information, or call our customer service department at 1 888 341 0782, option 4.

Yes. Our toll-free number is 1-888-341-0782. Our sales department can be reached by option 1, and our customer service department can be reached by option 4. 

Sun-Mar’s manufacturer warranty is 5 years for the tank, and 3 years for all other components of the toilet.

Accessory parts are not included in this warranty, and they have a 90 day warranty period. For all warranty inquiries, the serial number will be required.

Please click here for an electronic copy of Sun-Mar’s warranty, which can also be found on the back cover of your owner’s manual.

Please note that, as this is a personal hygiene product, once the toilet has been used, there is a no return policy. However, our customer service department would be happy to discuss any questions and offer the best possible solution.

There are several different drum sizes available, with the Centrex 3000 being the largest available. The GTG, Sun-Mar’s urine separating toilet, has an unlimited capacity to fit multiple installations. However, with all units, the amount of waste in the toilet depends on the number of users. 

Yes! Sun-Mar units are certified for cottage and residential use to NSF/ANSI Standard 41. The National Sanitation Foundation, NSF, is the only North American standard for composting toilets. Please click here to visit their website for more information http://www.nsf.org/

Sun-Mar wants to ensure that there is a toilet that can fulfill every need or installation. 

Absolutely, any type of toilet paper can be used in Sun-Mar units. It is a useful source of carbon for the compost.

For the outside shell or bowl liner of a self-contained toilet*, an ultra low-flush toilet, or an A/F Waterless toilet, Compost Quick and water, or a solution of vinegar and water, are the recommended cleaners.  

You do not need to clean the Bio-drum™ unless bleach or some other chemical has been added to the drum by accident. 

*For advice on cleaning the outside shells of electric self-contained or Central units, please call Sun-Mar’s customer service department at 1 888 341 0782, option 4.

Power washing is not recommended as this will damage electrical components.

All Sun-Mar toilets are built at our head office in Burlington, ON. 

No, if installed and maintained as per instruction. Any odor is a sign that something is not quite right with either the compost, or the installation. Contact our customer service team with your serial number and we’d be glad to go over what is happening and help to resolve it.

None whatsoever. Chemicals such as bleach, essential oils, and common cleaners will disrupt, if not outright kill, the compost and are not recommended for use with Sun-Mar toilets. The only materials that should be used with any Sun-Mar toilet are the appropriate Compost Sure Green or Compost Sure Blue bulking materials, Compost Quick and Microbe Mix. Consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions, or contact Sun-Mar’s customer service department for more information. 

Yes. Composting may be affected, depending on the location and temperature where it is installed. If the self-contained toilet or Central unit is installed in a location with temperatures consistently below 50° F/15° C, the compost will go dormant and composting will stop, allowing the toilet to function as a holding tank. Removing compost from the drum to make room for some winter usage is recommended.

No. The Bio-drum™ is designed to withstand its contents freezing, so using the toilet in the winter is possible. However, do not rotate the drum when the compost is frozen, as this can damage it.

You never need to empty the Bio-drum™ completely. The compost in the drum contains the microbe colony that aerobically breaks down waste. 

Typically in a seasonal installation, you would remove some compost to the finishing drawer to make room in the drum. The amount to be removed varies by unit and usage; contact Sun-Mar’s service department with any questions.

No, non-electric units are best for these installations. 

No problem, Sun-Mar has both electric and non-electric toilets available.

Fans and thermostats are finite moving parts, and as such may wear out over time. 

Typically, about as noisy as your average computer fan. For electric units, there is a speed control kit available for purchase.

The maximum number of ultra low-flush toilets that can be used with a Central system is 3. However, it is important to remember that the number of toilets does not equate to how many people can use it. Each installation is different, and the capacity guidelines in your owner’s manual should be the determining factor.

The maximum recommended distance is 15 feet, with a drop of between 1/4″-1/8″ per foot. If your installation requires a run longer than the recommended distance, contact Sun-Mar customer service department regarding possible solutions.

No. We do not recommend adding food or garden scraps or greywater to the toilet as it will affect the composting process.