I recently received the following question from a facility manager:

Hello Klaus,

Have there been any advances in the waterless urinal world? Although we all know they save water, many building owners and managers still believe they have odor issues. Is this true?

My Answer

Hello, and thank you for your interest in Waterless Urinals. I am happy you contacted me.

First, I must agree with you, waterless urinals are a terrific way to save water, promote sustainability, and reduce environmental impacts. They also have other benefits for building owners and managers, such as lowering maintenance costs, fewer plumbing problems, and improved hygiene.

However, some people may have misconceptions about waterless urinals and odor. This is understandable, as waterless urinals were not always as advanced and reliable as they are today.

Before going further, let me introduce myself. I am proudly viewed as a waterless urinal expert with over 30 years of experience in the industry. I have been involved in the development, marketing, and installation of waterless urinals and related technologies in North America and around the world since 1991.

Now to your question. The main causes of no-water urinal odor issues in the past were the following three issues:

1.    Many manufacturers of non-water urinals were requiring - and still require - the use of costly cartridges, which are placed at the bottom of the urinal. However, the sealing liquid used for these cartridges did not last long.

So, you understand, the cartridge and the sealing liquid are designed to prevent sewer odors from entering the restroom. Today, most manufacturers use cartridges and sealing liquids that perform more effectively and last longer. In fact, many recommend our BlueSeal sealing liquid. It lasts longer, is refillable, easy to use, and is less expensive than most other sealing liquids.

2.    The second issue comes down to cleaning. When no-water urinals were first being adopted, cleaning professionals were unsure how to clean them. Often, they used substantial amounts of water, which was unnecessary, could damage the cartridge, and reduced the amount of sealing liquid in the cartridge. Errors such as this have been eliminated.

Cleaning professionals are now familiar with waterless urinals and know how to clean them. Typically, all that is required is a sanitizer or disinfectant sprayed on the surfaces of the urinal and then wiped down. There rarely is deposit build-up of any kind on these urinals so no scrubbing is necessary. 

3.    Finally, many cleaning professionals did not know how often to replenish the sealing liquid. It’s quite simple. But once again, cleaning workers were not taught how to do this, which often resulted in odors.

I hope this answers your question and clears up any doubts you may have about waterless urinals. If you have any further questions or would like to learn more about our products and services, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Klaus Reichardt