Renting a porta potty through an Erie winter
A porta potty works fine through an Erie winter if three things are right: a non-freezing brine charge in the tank, a spot away from roof drip lines and plow piles, and a shoveled path to the door. Here is how we handle lake-effect snow, and what we ask you to do.
Can you rent a porta potty in an Erie winter?
You can rent a porta potty all winter in Erie. From November through March, every unit gets a non-freezing brine charge in the tank so waste does not freeze solid. Jobsites, remodels and ice-fishing launches keep units through the whole season. The work is in placement and a clear path, not the unit itself.
Erie gets around 100 inches of snow in a typical season. Most of it comes in lake-effect bands that can drop a foot or more in an afternoon, then stop.
Christmas 2017 is the storm everyone here remembers. About 5 feet fell in roughly two days. Units that were placed well came through fine. Units that sat under a roofline or next to a plow pile had to be dug out.
Most of our winter units sit on construction sites and home projects on monthly rentals. The same rules apply to a winter wedding or a hockey tournament.
How do you keep a porta potty from freezing?
We keep a porta potty from freezing by adding a non-freezing brine charge to the tank at every delivery and every cleaning from November through March. The salt mix keeps the tank liquid well below freezing, so it can still be pumped. The deodorizer still goes in, so the unit smells like a summer unit.
The brine charge is included in the price. You will not see a winter fee on your quote.
A standard porta potty has no water lines, so there is nothing else to freeze. Units with fresh-water tanks are a different story.
What about flushing units and handwashing stations?
A deluxe flushing unit and a handwashing station carry fresh water. In a hard freeze, that water can freeze in the tank and the foot pump. Call before you book one for winter use, and we will talk through what works for your site and your dates.
For most winter jobsites, a standard unit with hand sanitizer is the practical choice. Add a heated indoor sink if your building has one.
Where should a porta potty go when it snows?
A winter porta potty should sit on firm, level ground away from roof drip lines, plow paths and snow piles, with the door facing away from the wind. Snow sliding off a roof can bury the door. A plow pile can tip the unit or block the pump truck. Pick the spot before the first storm.
Walk the site and look up. If a roof edge is above the spot, move the unit at least a few feet out from the drip line. Ice that drips and refreezes in front of the door is a fall waiting to happen.
Then look at where the plow goes. Ask whoever plows the lot where the piles end up, and keep the unit on the other side.
What do you need to do after a lake-effect storm?
After a lake-effect storm, you need to shovel a path to the porta potty door and a lane the service truck can reach. Our driver pumps the tank with a hose from the truck, so the truck has to get close. A clear door and a clear lane mean the weekly cleaning happens on time.
The path to the door matters for your crew. Nobody wants to wade through knee-deep snow, and an unused unit means workers leave the site.
Mark the unit with a tall stake or flag if the lot gets plowed at night. A plow driver in the dark can bury a blue box faster than you think.
If the door is frozen shut, do not force it. Knock the ice off the hinge side and the latch, or call us and we will free it on the next stop.
Will wind off Lake Erie tip a porta potty over?
Wind off Lake Erie can tip an empty porta potty in an exposed spot. Units on the bluffs along West Lake Road, near Presque Isle or on the Bayfront take the strongest gusts. In those spots we stake or strap the unit down and set it beside a building or fence that blocks the wind.
A full tank is heavy and stable. A freshly pumped unit is light, and that is when a gust can catch it.
Face the door away from the lake. A door that opens into the wind gets ripped open, and snow blows straight inside.
Tell us when you book if the site is on open ground near the water. We bring the stakes or straps on the first trip.
Do you still clean porta potties during snowstorms?
We still clean porta potties during snowstorms whenever the roads are safe to drive. Weekly service keeps going all winter. When a lake-effect band shuts down roads or makes a route unsafe, we move that stop by a day and text you. We catch up as soon as the plows open the roads.
What happens to my service when roads close?
When roads close, your porta potty service moves to the next day the route is safe. Snow bands in Erie are narrow, so the south county may be clear while the lakeshore is buried. We reroute around the worst areas and come back to closed stops first once the roads reopen.
You hear from us by text before a missed stop, not after. If a crew on your site will fill the unit before we get there, tell us and we put you first on the catch-up day.
A unit with a brine charge can safely wait an extra day or two. It is the busy units that cannot. If you have a big crew, ask about twice-weekly service from December to February.
Under OSHA's construction rule, toilets must be provided for workers year-round. Read 29 CFR 1926.51, or our plain-English OSHA guide for Pennsylvania jobsites.
Need a unit before the next storm?
Order by 11 a.m. for same-day delivery in the Erie core zone. Brine charge included.
Winter porta potty questions
These winter porta potty questions cover cost, frozen tanks, heaters, delivery in snow and how early to book. Each answer starts with the short version. Winter rules apply from November through March, and the same brine charge goes into every unit we deliver or clean during those months.
Does a winter porta potty cost more?
A winter porta potty costs the same as a summer one. The brine charge is part of every winter cleaning. Monthly rates start at $185 per 28 days with weekly service, before 6% PA sales tax. See the full price list.
Can the tank still freeze?
A brine-charged tank stays liquid in a normal Erie winter. In a long deep freeze with heavy use, the top layer can slush up. That is one more reason to keep weekly service on schedule.
Can I put a heater inside?
Do not put a propane or open-flame heater inside a porta potty. The unit is plastic and the space is tiny. Fire damage is billed at repair or replacement cost.
Can you deliver in deep snow?
We deliver in snow as long as the truck can reach a plowed spot near where the unit goes. On a hand dolly, we need a firm, cleared path. Deep, unplowed snow means the unit goes where the plowed area ends.
When should I book a winter jobsite unit?
One or two days of notice is plenty most of the winter. In the core Erie zone, an order by 11 a.m. can arrive the same day. Book ahead of a forecast storm, not during it.
Planning a placement for the whole season? Read where to place a porta potty before the first snow.
Get your itemized quote
Fastest way: call Shawn. You get the price, the delivery day and the total on one call.
(814) 245-2757Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Calls are answered in Erie, not a call center.
On a jobsite? Text the address and a photo of the spot to (814) 245-2757.
Prefer a form? Send it here. We reply within 1 business hour during open hours.