Short answer: heat does not change how many units you need, but it changes how fast they turn unpleasant. Keep units in afternoon shade, off dark asphalt, cleaned at least weekly, and well out of any arroyo once monsoon storms start in mid-June.
How hot it gets here
El Paso summers routinely push past 100°F in June and July. In 2023 the city logged 44 straight days at or above 100°F, its longest such streak on record. The inside of a plastic cabin in direct sun runs hotter than the air around it.
Heat speeds up odor
Warm tanks break down faster and the smell rises with the air through the vent pipe. A unit that is fine on a 10-day cycle in January can be unpleasant by day five in July. That is why we keep units that stay on a weekly schedule all summer, even on sites that use them lightly.
Placement that makes a real difference
- Afternoon shade. The east side of a building gets shade after noon, when the heat peaks.
- Light ground. Packed dirt or concrete stays cooler than black asphalt.
- Space to breathe. Do not box the unit in against a south-facing wall that reflects heat.
- Morning-before delivery for events, so the unit is not baking all day before guests arrive.
Crews working in the heat
Workers drinking more water use the toilets more, which shortens the time between cleanings on a busy site. If a summer crew is running long days, a second weekly visit is usually cheaper and more pleasant than adding units. A wash station also gives people a place to rinse their hands and face.
Monsoon season
The Southwest monsoon season runs from June 15 to September 30. Storms dump a lot of rain in a short time, and arroyos and low streets fill fast. Never park a unit in a wash, a drainage swale or at the bottom of a sloped lot. After a storm, dirt access roads may be too soft for the service truck for a day, so we may shift a visit rather than risk getting stuck.
When a trailer is worth it
For a summer wedding or company event, a restroom trailer is the only option with real air conditioning. It still needs shade to keep up. See restroom trailers for the hookups it needs.
Web storyPorta potties vs. desert wind and heatSpring gusts, 100-degree afternoons and monsoon washes: where to set a unit in El Paso so it stays upright and fresh.