Waterless urinals, as the name suggests, do not need water for their operation. The absence of water requires that you use a waterless urinal cleaner, that is usually different than the regular urinal cleaners in the market. Waterless urinals look the same as are the conventional urinals and all that is missing most of the times is a piping or flush valve that sits above the unit in case of a conventional urinal.
Instead of having a flush system, these urinals have a vertical design having a cylinder that is filled with a layer of a sealant liquid that at the top of the urinal’s drain area. When a person uses a waterless urinal, the urine passes through the sealant and the cylinder and as the cylinder is filled, it moves into to the waste line under the barrier layer. This is where it is drained just the same way as the conventional urinal.
Cleaning a Waterless Urinal the Right Way
Since there is an inclusion of cartridges, the presence of waterless urinals demands special maintenance and care. As per the manufacturers, the process of cleaning the outside of a waterless urinal is pretty standard, the process and the waterless urinal cleaner you use to clean the inside, specifically the process of removing and replacing cartridges, needs to be done with extensive care.
Usually the manufacturer’s waterless urinal cartridge work well, but 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.
Recommended Maintenance Plan for Sloan, Falcon, and Bobrick Waterless Urinals Using the EZ Trap Cartridge:
- At the end of each day, clean the waterless urinal with any cleaner.
- After cleaning the waterless urinal, pour 1 gallon of clean water down the waterless urinal drain. Do this daily.
- Spray Xion Lab’s Bio-Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid in and around the urinal with trigger sprayer (set at mid point between a fine spray and a coarse stream). Spray any surface around the urinal that has had contact with urine. Spray daily until urine odors are digested. Thereafter, spraying is generally needed only weekly.
- Once a week, after you have poured 1 gallon of water down the waterless urinal drain, pour 8 ounces of Xion Lab’s Bio-Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid down the waterless urinal drain.
You can buy Xion Lab’s Bio Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid by visiting https://www.xionlab.com/enzyme
We tested this cleaning method in one facility and the EZ Trap Cartridge lasted 6 Months, and effectively controlled urine odor. Each facility is different, so we cannot guarantee you will have the exact same results, but we have tested this maintenance plan in various locations and they are reporting great results and $SAVINGS$.
CLICK HERE for information on the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal Cartridge.
Cleaning the Outside
Waterless urinals, in most cases, are made of high performance composite materials or porcelain. Waterless urinal cleaners should use a soft cloth to wipe the urinals from the outside in using a disinfectant cleaner. Using harsh chemicals or bristled brushes can cause scratches on the surface of the urinal and cause damage to it.
Having scratches all over the surface of the urinal make it harder to clean and also gives germs and bacteria a place to harbor, leading to foul smells. Using a bioactive cleaner can help get rid of these smells. There are many specific waterless urinal cleaners that are found effective in getting rid of the smell associated with uric acid using chemicals.
Sealant and Trap Replacement
When it comes to trap replacement and maintenance, most of the time it is left to cleaning professionals. The maintenance needs differ as per the cleaning agent you are using and the type of waterless urinal you have. However, the process usually involves replenishing the liquid sealant and also replacing the cylinder if it is necessary.
How to Add Sealant
When the urinal is used, there is also draining of small amounts of sealant into the waste line. This loss of sealant needs to be replenished otherwise the urinal will run out of it. The sealant usually needs to be replenished after every 1500 uses of the urinal.
For example, in case of a typical school, you will need two refills of the sealant each month. The sealant for your waterless urinal usually comes with a portion aid device which can be used to measure accurately 3 ounces of sealant which are to be poured directly to the cylinder.
How to Replace the Cylinder
When it comes to the cylinder, some waterless urinals have ones that last well over several months. Thus, you will only need to change the cylinder 2 to 4 times a year.
These are the steps you need to do to replace the cylinder of your waterless urinal.
- Wear gloves before getting into the process of cleaning the urinal and replacing the cartridge
- Remove the trap using the metal tool provided by the manufacturer
- Insert the metal tool into the trap and gently pull it out through constant but slow back and forth motion
- Lift the cylinder from the urinal and tilt it a little to ensure any excess liquid in the cylinder, is drained and discarded
- Now that the trap is removed, pour in a bucket of hot water in the drain which will help in flushing any sediments left in the line
- Once cleaned, insert a new trap to the waterless urinal. Now add about 12 ounces of water to it along with 3 ounces of sealant
- Some waterless urinals do not allow the trap to be replaced. In such a case, it needs to be take apart from the waterless urinal and then cleaned before putting it back in place
How to Replace the Cartridge
Replacing the cartridge is another essential step to be performed when you are cleaning the waterless urinal yourself. It is important to know what needs to be done and what is the procedure even if you are taking the help of a professional waterless urinal cleaner.
Here are the simple steps to be done to replace the cartridge while you are undergoing the waterless urinal cleaning process.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from getting dirty and to prevent any germs from affecting your health
- Insert the metal key provided by the manufacturer to open the cartridge
- The next step is to lift the cartridge from the urinal and tilt it to drain any water, sealant and urine in it.
- Place the old cartridge in a bag to be disposed of in a trash can. Make sure you seal the bag properly before throwing it away
- Now that the cartridge is removed, take a soft bristle brush to scrub the inside of the urinal gently. You don’t want to harm its surface. A 1.5-inch nylon brush is ideal for this task. It is important to not only clean the inside of the urinal but also go into the piping and clean it thoroughly
- Now that you are done with scrubbing your waterless urinal, the next step is to flush the urinal using soapy water. About 5 gallons of water is ideal to flush the urinal the right way, not leaving any residue behind
- Now wipe the inner stainless steel rim of the urinal using a soft cloth to avoid scratching it
- Now that you have completely cleaned the rim and the urinal, it is time to insert a new clean cartridge. Make sure the cartridge is secured in its place before you turn the key to lock it
- Before you start using the waterless urinal again, it is important to put in a sealant which should be given enough time to drain into the cartridge.
When you are cleaning your waterless urinal, it is important to make sure you are using the right waterless urinal cleaner. If you end up choosing the wrong waterless urinal cleaner, not only will it affect the performance of the urinal, but will also cause harm to the structure and surface.
Waterless urinal cleaners are made of chemicals, but it is important not to choose one that has many harsh chemicals in it as it can damage the lining of the urinal along with causing damage to the cartridge and cylinder. Usually the manufacturer’s waterless urinal cartridge work well, but 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.
Recommended Maintenance Plan for Sloan, Falcon, and Bobrick Waterless Urinals Using the EZ Trap Cartridge:
- At the end of each day, clean the waterless urinal with any cleaner.
- After cleaning the waterless urinal, pour 1 gallon of clean water down the waterless urinal drain. Do this daily.
- Spray Xion Lab’s Bio-Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid in and around the urinal with trigger sprayer (set at mid point between a fine spray and a coarse stream). Spray any surface around the urinal that has had contact with urine. Spray daily until urine odors are digested. Thereafter, spraying is generally needed only weekly.
- Once a week, after you have poured 1 gallon of water down the waterless urinal drain, pour 8 ounces of Xion Lab’s Bio-Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid down the waterless urinal drain.
You can buy Xion Lab’s Bio Enzymatic Cleaner Liquid by visiting https://www.xionlab.com/enzyme
We tested this cleaning method in one facility and the EZ Trap Cartridge lasted 6 Months, and effectively controlled urine odor. Each facility is different, so we cannot guarantee you will have the exact same results, but we have tested this maintenance plan in various locations and they are reporting great results and $SAVINGS$.
CLICK HERE for information on the EZ Trap Waterless Urinal Cartridge.
Precautions
Here are some important precautions to take when you are cleaning your waterless urinal
- Always wear protective gloves before you begin the process of cleaning the urinal
- Make sure you remove any foreign objects from the urinal before you begin with other steps. There is a trap in the urinal meant to catch any foreign objects which can enter the drain area and can lead to clogging it
- Using abrasive chemical, waterless urinal cleaners or brushes and towels is a strict no
- Using all purpose and neutral waterless urinal cleaners is best for cleaning them as they are mild and don’t harm the urinal
- It is important to give the waterless urinal the “dwell time” as indicated by the manufacturer of the waterless urinal cleaner
- Use a soft cloth or brush to wipe the surface of the urinal to avoid scratches and cracks which can be the best place for germs to grow
Waterless urinals are ideal for water consumption as they do not need water for flushing. Urine is eliminated from the urinal through the principle of gravity. These waterless urinals are best for the areas where there is a shortage of water. Replacing the conventional urinals with waterless ones can help in saving hundreds of gallons of water each year that is wasted during the flushing process.
Waterless urinals work best both for residential and commercial settings. These are highly suited for the bathrooms that have a heavy traffic. If you, as a resident or a commercial venture, are looking for ways to reduce your water bills, waterless urinals can play a big part.
Since these waterless urinals do not make use of water, you need to make sure you use a good waterless urinal cleaner to clean it.
Before we go on and look into the ways to clean waterless urinals, let us first see its types.
Types of Waterless Urinals
In most cases, an oil-based sealant is used in waterless urinals. However, some waterless urinals use a one-way valve to keep the urine inside the urinals while some also make use of microbiological cartridges for the function.
Here are the main types of waterless urinals.
1. Sealant Based
Oil based sealants are used in these urinals for trapping urine and keeping it inside. The presence of sealants prevents the urine from overflowing due to its property of being less dense. Using a good waterless cleaner that is compatible with the waterless urinal is a must to clean these the right way. Incompatible waterless urinal cleaners and chemicals can lead to the degradation of the fluid seal which results in odors unless you replace the sealant.
2. Valve Barrier Urinals
Valve barrier systems make use of built-in traps or cartridges that have a siphon or a one-way valve that helps prevent the entering of foul air in the washroom. To breakdown urine and to emit smell, most of these models make use of single valve together with a microbiological block. It is recommended to make sure proper and regular servicing of the urinal is done using a compatible waterless urinal cleaner. Using incompatible cleaning products can lead to damage to the valves and the urinals.
3. Microbiological Cartridges
Many waterless urinals also make use of replaceable microbiological cartridges. These cartridges have a u-bend which is used to trap urine which is then worked upon by the action of microbes breaking it down into odorless compounds. Regular sluicing is needed to be performed for these urinals to ensure there are no blockages. You need to get proper and regular servicing of these urinals and use a good and effective waterless urinal cleaner to ensure cleanliness and to get rid of the germs in the urinal. It is important not to use the wrong waterless cleaners as they can lead to a damage to the urinal and disable the system, resulting in blockages and odors.
Final Word
Waterless urinals are ideal if you are looking to conserve water as they do not work on the usual flushing system used by the common conventional urinals. This makes them ideal to be installed in public places and commercial buildings where there is an excessive use of the urinals. Not only do these urinals help in conserving water, they are also highly hygienic when compared to traditional urinals. They can last you a long time if they are taken care of and well maintained in the right way.
If you have a waterless urinal installed in your building, it is important to take time out to clean and maintain it regularly to extend its life. If you feel you will not be able to do what is necessary to keep it in top shape, you can get the services of a professional waterless urinal cleaner who will be able to help you clean it and keep it well-maintained.
A waterless urinal is an investment that will help you even long after purchase, not only in keeping the water bills down, but by improving the overall hygiene condition of your bathrooms where there will be less germs and hence less diseases.