Waterless urinals are common in America, and these are outdoor toilets. These do not contain a proper flushing system to clean the bowl but have similar designs to conventional ones.
Common problems with waterless urinals are frequent maintenance, broken seals of the cartridge, damaged pipes, calcium buildup, the resistance of people, smell in surroundings, scratches on the bowl, clogged filters, and staining on the bowl.
Maintaining and keeping them clean is necessary so you do not feel any smell in the surroundings.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Need frequent maintenance | Replace cartridges and check fluids |
| Broken seal of the cartridge | Avoid direct water flushing |
| Damaged pipes | Avoid using copper-made pipes and vents |
| Calcium builds up | Pour warm water |
| Reluctant to use | Counseling about their benefits |
| Scratches and damaged coatings | Avoid using harsh cloth |
| Release of sewer gas and smells | Refill oil in the cartridge |
| Clogged filters | Use all-purpose cleaners |
| Staining on bowl | Mist surface with neutral cleaners |
Need frequent maintenance
These are present in most public buildings and water because of their cost-effective solution and water-saving properties. These save water costs but need frequent maintenance to keep them functional and efficient.
The oily fluid and liquid sealant in them also seep into the pipes during urine flushing. These fluids need replacement after several months, depending on their location and frequency of usage.
You cannot use any detergent or cleaners to make them clean because it can damage the seals. These require special methods for their cleaning and maintenance.
In addition, the cartridge also becomes clogged with hair and dust, and it is necessary to replace them. The cartridges are costly, and their replacement is crucial to avoid smells and blockages.
Use special cleaning agents to make them clear instead of conventional cleaning liquid because it can damage the seal and increase your maintenance budget.
Check the cartridge and replace them frequently and refill the liquid in them.
Broken seal of the cartridge
The seal between the cartridge and urinals keeps the urine lower and allows their movement in plumbing systems.
These seals can get damaged, and you can feel the smell from the surroundings. The cartridges also contain enzymes and deodorizing agents to limit the urine odor in surrounding environments.
The seals of these materials break when you use incorrect methods for their cleaning. Moreover, the restrooms’ untrained cleaning staff uses conventional cleaners, which can affect their seal.
Furthermore, flushing water without removing the cartridge also damages their seals. Train the public staff about using special cleaning agents and techniques for these fixtures so they cannot damage them.
Avoid pouring the water directly into the bowl for flushing and cleaning.
Damaged pipes
The damaged pipes are the most commonly reported problem in waterless urinals. It can affect the plumbing system, which is at more risk of cracking.
In the conventional types, the flushing water dilutes the consistency of urine, which cannot affect the metal or copper pipes of the plumbing system.
These types do not contain a flushing system or water, and concentrated urine is directly exposed to metal pipes. Moreover, long-term exposure mainly causes damage to the metal, steel, and copper plumbing pipes.
The highly concentrated urine can make them rusty and increase the risk of breaking and cracking. It is necessary to check the plumbing and venting systems of the places where you want to install them.
Avoid installing them with copper-made venting and plumbing system because concentrated urine and gasses react with them.
Calcium build-up
People can often feel the urine smells from their restrooms which can irritate them and make them nauseous.
You do not want to stay there because of its intense aroma. In addition, the urine contains high amounts of minerals, particularly calcium.
These can build up on pipes and cannot remove properly. These systems do not use water to flush the water properly, so urine residues remain there and stick to the plumbing pipes.
You can feel the smell because of the accumulation of urine residues. Add warm water to the drains to clean and remove urine residues properly.
Remove the cartridge and filters for pouring water so it cannot affect the consistency of the liquid.
People are reluctant to use
Many people are reluctant to use waterless urinals in restrooms and public places. Most people do not want to use them because they seem unclean because of the absence of water.
The problem comes because of insufficient cleaning of the bowl. You can also think urine splashes remain in the bowl when you do not flush them with high-pressure water.
The other misconception is about their smell because of dried urine stains and the absence of a water supply.
People need proper consultancy for their benefits which urges them to replace the conventional ones with waterless ones.
The manufacturers often tell their customers about their water-saving benefits and positive environmental impact.
Scratches and damaged coatings
Scratching on the bowl surface of waterless urinals is a common problem. Moreover, it can also damage the exterior coating, which comes off from their surface.
It happens when you use incorrect cleaning practices to make them clean and clear. Furthermore, harsh rubbing damages their exterior coating, and you can see scratches on unexposed surfaces.
These are mostly made of metal and porcelain, which are delicate and scratch easily when you rub them with a hard rag.
Use soft cotton fabric for cleaning and stain removal instead of harsh rags. In addition, use the cleaning agents that are specifically available in the market for their cleaning.
Release of sewer gas and smell
You can also feel the smell from the urinals and surrounding areas, which is irritating.
The water is helpful to keep the sewer gasses down and get rid of pesky odors from the toilets and bathrooms.
These do not contain water for flushing; sometimes, sewer gasses come up because of insufficient liquid in the cartridge.
The low liquid levels and vegetable oils that keep the sewer gasses downs make your bathrooms smelly. Instead, use air fresheners and scented candles in bathrooms to get rid of unwanted odors.
In addition, it is also necessary to check the liquid levels in the cartridge seals and fill them if their levels are low.
Clogged filters
Waterless urinals are available in the market in different varieties and designs. Each of these types and different working principles depends upon their manufacturing design.
Some contain a silicone diaphragm instead of a cartridge for sealing actions. These are also known as filters because it seals the urine in the draining pipes and prevents their outflow.
The clogged filters can increase the risk of smell from your room. These filters clog occurs when urate and uric acid crystals build on their upper surface.
It is necessary to clean them frequently when they are present in high-traffic areas, and their usage frequency is higher. Use all-purpose cleaners to clean their drains and pipes.
Staining on bowl
The urine stains on bowls of waterless urinals are most common, which can irritate people, and they consider it unhygienic and uncleaned.
Moreover, staining can also increase the risk of smell when it becomes dry. The staining issue comes because there is no water for flushing purposes.
The urine splashes dry on the bowls and produces yellowish stains on their surface, which are challenging to remove. Therefore, it is necessary to clean them with a damp cloth when you see any stains on them before their complete drying.
Use the all-purpose and neutral stain removals to break these stubborn stains. Mist the bowl surface with a spray of all-purpose cleaner and lightly rub it with a soft cloth.
Remove the residues of the cleaning agent with a wet mop and leave them for drying.
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