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Yes, you can have a toilet without a septic tank. However, it will have to be a composting toilet. Composting toilets work similarly to aerobic septic systems in that the waste, which sits in a separate compartment below the toilet itself, is slowly broken down by aerobic bacteria. These toilets typically have a vent to get rid of harmful gasses with a fan, which requires a battery. You will have to dispose of waste in the toilet manually every three weeks to every three months, depending on how many people are using the toilet.

Yes, frozen pipes can cause a toilet to stop working correctly. If the pipes are frozen, water cannot flow, which can lead to two main problems. First, the supply line to the toilet tank may be frozen, which prevents the tank from refilling with water after you flush. Second, the drain pipe itself can freeze, blocking water from flushing away. As a temporary solution for a non-refilling tank, you can manually add water, but this is not a long-term fix. To clear a frozen drain pipe, you can try pouring warm water into the toilet bowl or tank and then flushing, as the warm water may help thaw the ice blockage. Ultimately, the best course of action is to unfreeze the affected pipes to restore your toilet to full functionality.

If you have to hold the toilet handle (also called the toilet lever) down to flush, you probably have a chain problem. A chain that cannot fully lift the flapper will close too early and not clear the toilet bowl. Try adjusting the chain length so there’s about ½ inch of slack.   

There are a few ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger. Break up the clog with homemade solutions containing soap, vinegar, and baking soda, or simply let hot water spend some time in the drain. You can also use a two-liter soda bottle filled with water to push pressurized water into the pipe to dislodge the debris (see the steps above).