Know Before You Buy
The Missing Fixture

• Is almost never mentioned in Home Design/Decorating books
  
• Is affordable and belongs in every home, yet is missing in most
  
• Men are usually too intimidated to mention it by name
  
• Women never consider it when planning a bathroom ...
  but spend the rest of their married lives wishing they had it
  
  

That fixture is a urinal. ... a specialized toilet designed for urination only, which is used almost exclusively by a standing male.

A commercial fixture that until recently, was rarely considered when it came to bathroom planning, urinals are beginning to appear in homes as their advantages are becoming more widely known.

Acceptance & Popularity
Early trend setters opted for a urinal in the master bathroom. Now they are beginning to appear in other bathrooms in the home as well ... especially where there are males in the household.

Urinals can be installed next to the toilet, although most women prefer to place it in a separate WC (Water Closet), or behind a partition.

• Cleaner - No drips, splashes or streaks on the toilet and surrounding area
  
  
• Easier to use. No lifting the toilet lid or seat or putting it back down afterwards.
  
  
• Can be used with the bathroom door open since privacy is not that much of an issue.
  
  
• Uses less water than a toilet. Some models do not require any water.
  

• Trough
  - Designed for simultaneous use by two or more persons
  - Most often found in sports stadiums, institutions, etc.
  - Flush Type: Flush or No-Flush (waterless)
  
  
• Floor Mount
  - These units are tall (36" - 40") and have the bowl and drain on the floor.
  - Harder for men to use than standard height wall mount.
  - Spots and splashes on the floor are common place.
  - Typically found in commercial and industrial environments only.
  - Flush Type: Flush
  
  
• Wall Mount
  - Considered the best option for homeowners.
  - Range in height from 20" to 34".
  - Usually installed with the rim of the bowl 24" above the floor,
     or 17" with a center line of under 10" for ADA specifications.
  - Rim height must be determined before the piping is put in place,
     and before the urinal is installed.
  - Must be attached to special hangers/brackets and
     mounted to a carrier or to the wall studs.
  - Flush Type: Flush or No-Flush (waterless)
  
  

Depending on the brand and/or model, the flushing mechanism may be located on top of the fixture, located on the wall above the fixture, or may be automated using infrared sensor device. Waterless models have no need for a flushing mechanism.

Plumbing:
Flush type urinals, depending on the model, require a 1/2" a 3/4" or 1 1/4" water supply line. Most homes have 1/2" water supply lines. Before purchasing a flush type urinal, have your contractor verify your existing plumbing can accommodate the model you choose.

Waterless (No-Flush) models need only a drain pipe connected to the soil stack.

Flush Models:
Urinals can be made of vitreous china, stainless steel or plastic. They are either push-button (usually always in a domestic situation) or have an automatic sensor that flushes them after a number of uses. As with toilets, most have a cistern water flush system and this has to be mounted or housed somewhere.

1. Washout / Washdown Flush
   This design provides the quietest flush of all flush models.
   Requires a 1/2" supply line. and uses 1/2 gal water per flush
   
   
2. Siphon-Jet flush
   The Siphon-Jet provides a more efficient, clean flush
   Requires a 3/4" supply line. and uses 1/2 - 1 gal of water per flush
   
   
3. Blowout Flush
   Normally used in public restrooms only
   This style produces a powerful flush relying entirely on high water volume, with no siphoning action.
   Requires a 1 1/4" supply line. and uses 1 gal of water per flush
   
   

White is the most popular color, but other colors are available. When choosing a colored fixture, it is a good idea to remember who will be using it. Even though it might go with the over all color scheme, not many men would appreciate using a pink urinal.

Typical flush type urinals range anywhere in price from $175.00 to $1800.00.

No-Flush / Waterless Models:
The newest technology from Sloan Waterfree is the waterless or no-flush urinal which saves both water and money.

Requiring only a drain pipe and no water supply lines, these urinals are easily added to existing bathrooms. No-flush units are available in white only.

The new fixtures are more sanitary than traditional urinals because they lack the necessary moisture for germs to thrive to thrive. The barrier in the trap blocks sewer vapors from being released into the bathroom, preventing odors.

A patented, replaceable cartridge is the main component and is installed at the base of the urinal. A biodegradable sealant liquid is contained within the cartridge. A barrier is formed between the drain and the open air by the liquid sealant, eliminating odors. The cartridge is designed to collect uric sediment, the remaining liquid, which is non-corrosive and free of hard water, is allowed to flow into the drainage pipe. The result: no wasted water and an odor-free environment. Maintenance is performed by replacing the cartridge after 7000 uses with a provided key.

The replaceable and biodegradable, liquid-sealed cartridge filters waste so liquids enter the drain and sediments are collected for disposal when the cartridge is replaced after 6,000 to 7,000 uses.

The Cartridge is engineered to receive waste through drain holes. Waste passes through an emissible layer of Sealant, continues through a Siphon Trap System, and flows out through a Patented Baffle to prevent the loss of Sealant.

A Discharge Tube in the housing directs the flow of waste into the building drain system. The Cartridge is designed as a replaceable component when its function has been exhausted.

Multiplying each use by 1.6 gallons of water (to compare to low-flow toilets) or by 3.5 (to compare to older units) shows a savings of 9,600 to 24,500 gallons of water.

 
Depending on the model, street prices for the Sloan Waterless Urinals range from $400.00 - $600.00.

Replacement cartridge kits include cartridge, sealant, key and glove are generally priced under $60.00.

Based upon standards published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the requirements of the Federal Resource and Recovery Act (RCRA), the contents in used cartridges are not classified as either hazardous or characteristically hazardous waste.

The cartridges are made of pure industrial grade ABS plastic, which is recyclable. In the event that an appropriate recycling program is not available in your community, please dispose cartridges as outlined below.

Used cartridges can be disposed of in sanitary landfills using the yellow plastic bags provided with each cartridge. Once the cartridge is placed into the disposal bag, it should be securely tightened and is then ready for disposal with ordinary trash refuse.

• Perform cleaning once a day, or as needed
  
• Remove any litter in the bowl and clear cartridge holes
  
• Use mild disinfectant cleaner on a cloth to wipe the bowl
  
• DO NOT use aggressive/concentrated detergents or any other chemicals
  
• DO NOT dispose of water into the urinal
  
• Replace the cartridge after 6,000 - 7,000 uses
  

 BACK

Was this article helpful?   Yes    No