Guide ·
Renting a Porta Potty Through a North Country Winter
From November to April, North Country rentals need three things summer rentals do not: antifreeze in the tank, a plowed path, and a plan for hand washing when water lines freeze.
Do porta potties freeze in winter?
A porta potty tank freezes when the temperature stays below 32°F and the tank has no treatment. Potsdam January nights regularly fall below 0°F. We add a non-toxic antifreeze charge to every tank from November through April at no extra cost, and recharge it on each service visit.
- Antifreeze is mixed into the tank at delivery and every service visit.
- Heavy use dilutes the charge. Sites with big crews may need a second weekly visit in deep cold.
- Do not pour salt, windshield fluid or hot water into the tank. Call us instead.
Where should a porta potty go in snow country?
A winter porta potty should sit where your crew already plows, close to the road, on the side away from the roof drip line and out of the path of plow banks. Snow sliding off a roof can bury or tip a unit. A plow driver who cannot see the unit can hit it.
- Put the unit on the plowed side of the driveway or lot.
- Keep it at least 10 feet from any roof edge.
- Mark it with a tall stake or flag in deep snow.
- Shovel a path to the door after every storm.
What happens if snow blocks service day?
If snow blocks the route or the lane to the unit, the service visit moves to the next day the truck can safely reach it. The visit is made up, not skipped. Tell us when your crew will plow so we can plan the route around it.
How do you wash hands at a winter job site?
Hand-wash stations freeze below 32°F, so winter rentals use wall-mounted sanitizer dispensers inside the unit. Crews that must wash with soap and water under OSHA 1926.51(f) can keep a station inside a heated trailer or building, and we refill it there.