Re: Waterless Urinal Maintenance

Chris, below is an article I prepared for a newsletter on maintaining waterless urinals. Possibly this will provide the info you need.

Occasionally facility managers complain that their no-water urinal systems are causing odor problems in their restrooms. Often, a waterless urinal is actually more odor free than conventional systems because the interior of the unit stays dry. Bacteria, which usually is the cause of restroom odors, needs the moisture found in a conventional urinal in order to thrive.

However, there have been odor problems reported, and in most cases they are the result of improper maintenance. Either the custodial crew has not been properly trained on cleaning the systems, or they are simply not following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

Although the care and cleaning of a no-water urinal is similar to that of a conventional, water-using urinal, there are some differences. Facility managers and custodial managers should be aware of these to keep no-water urinals odor free and operating properly.

Here are some of the key steps involved in cleaning and maintaining a waterless urinal system. Note that although they can vary by manufacturer, these steps usually apply to most no-water urinals.

•    Wear gloves to clean any restroom fixture.
•    Remove any foreign objects in the urinal. The trap/cylinder is designed to prevent larger objects from entering the drain area.
•    Do not use abrasive cleaners or brushes.
•    Mist all urinal surfaces with a neutral or all-purpose cleaner or a disinfectant cleaner.
•    Allow for dwell time (if a disinfectant, as indicated on the label).
•    Wipe clean with a soft cleaning cloth.

As you can see, this is a straightforward cleaning process. In fact, most custodial professionals find that cleaning a waterless urinal system actually takes less time than cleaning a conventional, water-using urinal.

Sealant and Trap Replacement

So far, the procedure to clean a no-water urinal does not differ much from that for a conventional urinal. However, the following steps are unique to most no-water urinals. These involve maintaining sealant in the trap/cylinder that sits at the base of the urinal as well as replacing the cylinder when necessary.

As the urinal is used, small amounts of the sealant, which along with the cylinder keeps sewer odors from being released into the restroom, will be drained into the waste line. It will need to be replenished, usually after about 1,500 uses. In a school this amounts to about two refills per month. Pour three ounces of sealant directly into the cylinder.

The cylinder itself will need to be replaced. On some systems, it must be replaced every couple of months. On others it may last several months. And unfortunately, some of the shortest-lasting cylinders are also the most expensive. This is why managers must do their homework, ensuring that they have selected a system that not only saves water but costs relatively little to maintain.

In most cases, manufacturers of the no-water system will provide detailed instructions on how to change the cylinder. They may also offer online videos that custodial workers can access at any time. At any rate, overall, on most no-water urinals systems, it is quick and easy to change the cylinder.

What Not to Do

There are a few things that custodial workers should never do with a no-water urinal system. Among these, as referenced earlier, is using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads. They simply are not necessary with a waterless urinal, and they can scratch the interior of the unit. Most waterless urinal systems are designed with a highly polished porcelain interior to enhance draining. Scratching this surface can harm this process.

Also, some custodial workers use urinals to drain soiled water from buckets. This should never be done with a no-water system because it can potentially damage the cylinder and cause the sealant to be drained away.

Finally, if an odor problem or any other type of problem appears to be developing, managers and custodial crews should not ignore it. Usually the problem is an indication that the sealant or cylinder needs replacement or possibly there is an issue with the drainage line. A few minutes investigating the situation usually results in a simple remedy, keeping the system operating properly and odor free.


Klaus Reichardt founded Waterless Co in 1991 with the goal to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water conservation in mind. The company’s key product, the Waterless No-Flush urinal (www.waterless.com), works completely without water

Howdy

We have 30 Toto Waterless urinals in our complex. While I am grateful for no longer having to deal with flushometers etc., I am now having to deal with urinals be clogged. Removing the cartridge and snaking the line has been our only solution. Are we missing something as far as maintenance? Building is 2 1/2 yrs. old.

Thanks

Paul

I work for a large university medical center and we changed to the waterless urinals in the summer of 2010. It was all about being "green" and saving water. What we found out was the smell was unbearable and the cost to replace the cartridges was ridiculous. After numerous complaints from patients, staff, and visitors, we switched back to the water based urinals within 5 months. Total failure.