While we do not hear about it much any longer, some facilities installing no-water urinals report malodor issues. 

To explain what is likely happening and how to correct it, we need a little reeducating.

To do this, we turn to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc, the oldest marketer of waterless urinals in the U.S. If malodors are an issue, among the steps he suggests taking are the following:

Replace the cartridges. Most waterless urinals have specially designed cartridges at the bottom of the urinal. Also known as a trap, they are designed to temporarily hold urine and send it down the drain. Plus, they block sewer odors from being released into the restroom. Depending on use and cartridge type, these should be replaced every three to six months.

Clean the urinal. Do not flush water down a waterless urinal to eliminate malodors. This step can damage the cartridge. Instead, thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the urinal with an all-purpose cleaner and a disinfectant if needed. Typically, waterless urinals only need to be cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner.

Clean walls and floors. Splatter is a concern with all types of urinals. The most common spatter landing spots are nearby walls, partitions, and floors. Regularly scheduled cleaning of these areas helps eliminate odors.

Clogged urinal. If a urinal is clogged, overflowing, or not draining correctly, remove the cartridge and use a plunger with water to unclog the pipes. This is more of a problem with a water-using urinal, but it can happen with waterless urinals.

Retrofits. Many waterless urinals installed today are retrofits. The old urinal is removed, and a new waterless urinal is installed. Managers should know that conventional urinals leave deposit build-up in the plumbing below the urinal. For this reason, the drainage system should be cleaned before the no-water urinal is installed.

“Many of these odor problems apply to conventional urinals as well,” says Reichardt. “No matter what type is installed, if there is urinal malodor, there usually is a reason. The steps will help in either case.”

#Waterless Co., Inc is a #pioneer in #waterefficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing #waterconsumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and #waterefficiently. For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.