Are you planning to rent portable toilets for your next event? Doing so is an easy solution to keep events of any size and duration clean and enjoyable for all guests. But before you rent your units, be sure to ask the right questions.
What questions do you need to get answers to before signing on the dotted line? Here are five of the most important.
1. What Services Are Included?
The actual toilet rental is only half the puzzle when it comes to renting for more than a few hours. If your event will stretch over an entire day or longer, you may need extra assistance to keep things sanitary and comfortable. Does your rental include any kind of dumping services? If so, at what schedule? What cleaning will you be responsible for? And what products should you have on hand for cleaning?
Make sure that you know what services are included in your contract price. You can often negotiate additional provisions or add them on at a bundled rate before completing your contract transaction.
2. What Hours Are Services Provided?
Many private, outdoor events are not held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. That means that you may have emergencies and servicing needs after-hours. Can you count on 24/7 services? If not, what are their emergency protocols and on-call availability?
While nothing may happen to cause an emergency or accident, the last thing you want is to have a bathroom breakdown at a wedding on Saturday night when everyone is just getting into party mode. You may also need long-term units serviced at a time when guests are not using the facilities, such as early in the morning or on a weekend during the day.
3. Is Your Company Local?
A local business has advantages that a distant company can’t provide. They know the area, including the climate and regional weather or geography. That can make a difference for anyone renting for an outdoor event. They are also likely to have better emergency services and response times, and they may be aware of city or county rules and regulations regarding the setup of rented toilets and outdoor use permits.
4. What Amenities Are Available?
If you’re simply hosting an outdoor sports game, a 5K marathon, or a volunteer day, you may not be overly concerned with making your restrooms fancier. But if you’re hosting a wedding or family reunion, amenities make a big difference for guests.
Ask your portable toilet company what options are available. Many companies provide restroom trailers — which are often environmentally controlled with cool or warm air — as well as ADA restrooms and handwashing stations. Any of these will make things feel more formal and match the decor of a fine party.
5. How Many Units Should I Rent?
While you can consult online guides to figure out how many toilet rentals you need, nothing beats the experience of an actual professional. A professional will help you gauge the number of rentals based on your type of event, its length, and the size of the crowd.
If you’re serving alcohol, for instance, you likely need more toilet rentals. And the number of hours affects how often rentals need to be serviced, so you may need more or fewer units. These are nuances that an experienced service can use to identify your specific needs.
At Porta John of Tulsa, we have more than 50 years of experience helping the people of Oklahoma provide safe, sanitary, and attractive portable restroom facilities. We can help you identify your needs, plan for contingencies, and find the right units for your event. Call today to learn more.