10 Steps on How to Replace Waterless Urinal Cartridge Kit

Depending on the type of waterless urinal cartridge you use will determine how to replace the waterless urinal cartridge. There are many brands of cartridges, but the one we recommend is the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal cartridge. It fits perfectly on Sloan, Falcon, and Bobrick waterless urinals, and it last 3 to 4 times longer than regular manufacturer cartridges. The EZ Trap also cuts maintenance cost dramatically because you can clean your urinal with any cleaner, and it does not need special, and costly sealants for urine odor control. CLICK HERE for information on the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal Cartridge.

Waterless urinals have a clear edge over the traditional flush urinals. They use no water to drain urine like flush urinals. Instead, the liquid waste is drained through dispersion. The waste passes through an oil based liquid sealant that is less dense than the liquid. In this way, the liquid waste collects in the pipe drain below.

Urine sinks to the bottom due to being denser than the oil based sealant. The sealant being less dense tends to float above the urine. It keeps the urine in a low oxygen environment since any air bubble rises to the top. This combined with the fact that the liquid waste is not exposed to water prevents bad odor problems. The odor associated with urine is of ammonia gas that is produced due to interaction of air, water, and urine. Due to low oxygen environment and no exposure to water, odor problem does not arise with waterless urinals.

Waterless urinals are suitable for homes, offices, restaurants, and shopping malls. The best thing about the urinals is that they help in saving of water. For high traffic areas, the savings be more than 100,000 thousand gallons per year. This translates into hundreds of dollars of savings in water bills.

Here we will talk at length about waterless urinals including how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit.

An Introduction to Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals don’t use water to flush urine. Instead it uses a cartridge filled with sealant. The urinals are best for installing in bathrooms that are frequented by a lot of people. Installing the urinals at high traffic areas will result in great cost savings. In addition, they can help in conserve precious water supply.

Installing waterless urinals is essential in areas that are facing draughts. They should be installed in restaurants, cinemas, train stations, rest shops, schools, and other areas. Also, they can be integrated into green sanitation program allowing storage of the liquid waste that can be used as a fertilizer.

Waterless urinals are available in different design and shapes. All the urinals pass on urine to the drainage system without using water. However, they differ regarding how the urine is passed down the drain. Most of the urinals use sealants to seal the liquid waste inside the unit. Some of the urinals use one-way valves to keep the urine inside.

What are Some of the Benefits of Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals are the best solution for draught stricken areas. They are ideal for states such as Arizona or California that face water shortage problem. Using the urinals can result in savings of thousands of gallons each year. The cost savings due to using waterless urinals depend on the unit rate as well as the usage. But generally, you can expect savings in the range of $300 to $900. The lower range is applicable for bathrooms in areas with low or moderate traffic, while the higher range is for areas that receive a lot of traffic.

Another reason that you should consider installing waterless urinal is that it leads to blocked pipes. Water is the main culprit when it comes to blocked pipes. Since no water is used in draining the liquid waste, there is less chances of blockages. Pipe blockages are caused due to using water to flush the liquid waste as is the case with traditional urinals.

Water generally exacerbate the blockage problem that leads to flowing in the bathroom. Lime present in water mixes with the uric deposit found in urine. As a result, solid waste builds up inside the pipe that leads to blockages. Using water to try to clear the blockage only exacerbate the problem. It leads to further blockage that results in flooding problem.

One more reason you should consider installing waterless urinals is that it is more hygienic as compared to traditional urinals. There is less bacteria formation in waterless urinals. Contrary to common perception, water does not keep away the bacteria. In fact, it accelerates the formation of bacteria.

Bacteria tend to thrive in moist areas. This makes the flush urinals the perfect place for bacterial formation. The areas that are in direct path of the flushed water is prime spot for bacteria formation. Bacteria formation increases every time water is used to flush the liquid waste.

With waterless urinals, bacterial formation is less of an issue. The urinal bowels are made of non-porous material. They don’t remain moist when urine passes over them. The urine passes through the sealant and becomes trapped in the cartridge. The sealant prevents the liquid waste from reentering the bowel. Several studies have pointed out bacterial formation is six times less in waterless urinals in comparison to flush urinals.

Lastly, odor problems are less of a concern with waterless urinals. The odor problem in traditional urinals is caused due to exposure of urine to air and water. No water is used in waterless urinals. Also, any air bubbles in the urine floats to the top creating a low oxygen environment inside the unit. This prevents odor problems.

Exposure of urine to air and water results in the formation of ammonia gas. The odor that reeks from traditional urinals is the smell of this gas. The odor problem occurs in flush urinals due to urine trapped in the P-trap. The trap holds the liquid waste where it is exposed to both water and air. As a result, ammonia gas is formed that results in bad odor.

In waterless urinals, the urine passes through the sealant due to displacement. Since water is denser than the sealant it passes towards the drain. Air bubbles in the urine float to the top due to which the urine is not exposed to air. The urine remains sealed inside the unit due to which there is usually no odor problem with waterless urinals.

Since the urine is not exposed to water, and the fact that it is kept in a low oxygen environment, odor problem does not occur in washroom where waterless urinals are installed. Normally, the reek that seem to stem from the waterless urinal is due to urine spilled on the floor. Regularly cleaning the floors and walls will prevent odor problems.

In waterless urinals, the sealant inside the cartridge forms an airtight seal. We will cover how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit in a little while. At this point, you should know that the waterless urinal cartridge contains an oil based sealant. This sealant keeps the urine inside the urinal. This prevents odor problems.

An important thing to remember about waterless urinals is that not all use sealants to keep the urine inside the unit. Some urinals have one-way valves made of flat rubber. The valve opens when the urine enters the urinal, and then shuts automatically. This prevents urine from reentering the urinal bowel. A few of the urinals use silicon curtain pieces instead of valves. All the different types of urinals effectively prevent odor problems. You should read the manufacturer’s instructions to know how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit.

Our recommended waterless urinal cartridge is the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal Cartridge. It fits perfectly on Sloan, Falcon, and Bobrick waterless urinals, and it last 3 to 4 times longer than regular manufacturer cartridges. The EZ Trap also cuts maintenance cost dramatically because you can clean your urinal with any cleaner, and it does not need special, and costly sealants for urine odor control. CLICK HERE for information on the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal Cartridge.

Important Tips for Waterless Urinal Installation

You should know that waterless urinal is easy to install. At least it is much easier to install as compared to flush urinals. The urinals can be installed in as little as 30 minutes. Retrofit takes a little longer to install but it takes less time than flush urinal retrofitting. Since no separate water supply is required for the urinal, it makes installation of the waterless urinal cost effective. This in addition to the time saving due to installation of waterless urinals.

The US plumbing codes should be followed when installing waterless urinals. The plumbing codes in most states have requirement that the lip-to-floor height of the urinal should be about 24 inches for most waterless urinals. ADA compliant urinals can have a height of 17 inches from the ground.

You will find all the accessories required to install the urinal. It’s important to follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing the unit. Depending on the brand of the urinal, there might be slight differences in installing the unit.

An important thing to keep in mind when installing the urinal is to use the correct size drain pipe. You can find out more about the pipe size in the instruction booklet. The pipe material should also meet the manufacturers specification. Using the wrong pipe can result in accumulation of solid waste inside the unit. This can lead to pipe blockages requiring plumbing repairs.

Do not install metal pipes. Although they are much cheaper, they are also prone to corrosion. Uric acid in the urine may corrode the pipe over time. This will result in a leakage. Instead, you should consider using plastic drain pipe.

Also, you should follow the manufacturer’s recommendation recommending about position the drain pipe. Generally, they need to be sloped in a way that allows the liquid waste to drain properly. If the pipes are not sloped properly, the urine not drain properly.

While installing waterless urinal may seem like an easy task, it should better be left to a professional. An experienced plumber can install the urinal taking into consideration all the factors that are required for proper installation. You will be able to avoid costly plumbing repairs due to wrong installation of the fixture.

How to Replace Waterless Urinal Cartridge Kit?

Urinal cartridge is an important part of the urinal. It must be checked and replaced at regular interval. The urinal cartridge replacement task is easy. It does not require contacting an experienced plumber. Here are some steps that outline how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit.

Step 1. The first step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit is to put in the key that opens the cartridge.

Step 2. Next, you should lift the cartridge. Tilt the cartridge a little to drain liquid such as urine, sealant, and water. This is the second step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit.

Step 3. The third step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit is to tilt the cartridge to dispose the cartridge by placing inside a bag. The bag should be sealed properly and then thrown in the bin.

Step 4. Next, you should scrub the urinal using a soft brush. Consider scrubbing deep inside the pipe using a nylon brush.

Step 5. After you have carefully scrubbed the unit, you should next consider flushing the urinals with 20 litters of soapy water. This is the fifth step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit.

Step 6. Afterward, you should clean the rim of the urinal bowel with a soft cloth or a sponge.

Step 7. After you have cleaned the rim, you should insert the new cartridge inside the unit. Once the cartridge is secure in place, you should turn the key to the right.

Step 8. The penultimate step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit is to fill the cartridge with about 1 quart of water. Continue filling until no bubbles are seen.

Step 9. The ninth step of how to replace waterless urinal cartridge kit involves adding the sealant. When adding sealant, you should allow time to drain it to the bottom.

Step 10. Lastly, you should spray a disinfectant and wipe it clean using a sponge. While using, the urinal harbor less bacteria as compared to flush urinals, using the disinfectant is nonetheless important as traces of the pathogens may be present in the bowel.

Tips to Maintain Waterless Urinal Cartridge

Always inspect and clean the waterless cartridge at regular intervals. You should consider cleaning the urinal after every 1500 to 7000 usages. Some urinals need cleaning earlier while others such as the Falcon and Sloan waterless urinal cartridges requires cleaning after 7500 usages.

In high traffic areas, the urinals may require cleaning every month. However, in moderate or low traffic areas, cleaning can be done after every three to six months. It is very easy to clean the waterless urinal. Just spray water in the bowel and then dry using a towel. There is no requirement of using cakes to remove odors as the urinal is odor-free.

Another important task is to replace the cartridge at regular intervals. Over time the cartridge can become clogged due to accumulation of waste inside the pipe. In most cases the cartridge require replacement after every six months. Some materials may require replacement after just three months. You must follow manufacturers’ requirements to cleaning the cartridge.

Mostly it will depend on the usage of the urinal. High traffic areas will require more frequent replacement of the urinal cartridge. Replacing the urinal cartridge is important to ensure proper functioning. It’s recommended to use a notebook to record the last time when the cartridge was replaced. This will allow you to know exactly when to replace the cartridge. This will ensure that no plumbing problem occurs with the urinal.

Keep in mind that you should buy a urinal that conforms to the requirements of the manufacturer. Avoid buying a urinal that is not compatible with the urinal. This could result in plumbing problems. In some cases, using the wrong type of cartridges can result in pipe blockages.

Also, the urinal should be disinfected after replacing the cartridge. While waterless urinals harbor less bacteria, some traces may be present that should be remove using the disinfectant. The staff should disinfect the urinal about once a week in case the urinals are in high traffic areas.

The last point to know about urinal maintenance is that you should always flush the urinal with about five gallons of water when replacing the cartridge kit. The new cartridge needs to be primed before you pour sealant inside the urinal.

Conclusion

Installing waterless urinals can save a lot of water. They are ideal for installation in both commercial and residential settings. Since no water is used to drain the liquid waste, it results in great cost savings. The urinals are designed to allow urine to pass through the unit without the need for flushing.

Urine pass through the urinal being denser than the sealant. As a result, it remains sealed inside the urinal. The best thing about waterless urinals is that they can be installed easily. Also, there require less maintenance as compared to flush urinals. This make them preferable to regular flush urinals.

Cleaning the urinals is relatively easy. You can wipe it clean using soapy water. The only component that needs replacement is the cartridge. Replacing the cartridge is easy that can take about minutes. It’s important that you follow proper instructions when installing the cartridge to avoid any problems. Regular inspection and replacement of the cartridge will ensure proper functioning of the urinal for a long time.

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