Category: Purleve

As a business owner or building manager, finding ways to save money is probably forefront in your mind. You’ve heard about the environmental benefits of installing no-flush urinals, but did you know that you could save money as well? From reduced utility bills to minimal maintenance, those savings could add up quickly! Here’s a breakdown on what you can expect when you install waterless urinals in your business, healthcare facility, or government agency.

What’s a No-Flush Urinal

A no-flush urinal, also known as a waterless urinal, is an environmentally conscious, budget-friendly solution for any public restroom. Unlike traditional urinals that use a flushing mechanism to release water into the bowl, a no-flush urinal has no flushing mechanism or need for water. Instead, the sloped, nonporous bowl leads urine to a cartridge and seal in the drain. Once the urine enters the cartridge, it is pushed into the drain pipe, and the seal keeps odors and gasses inside the pipe from making it into the restroom itself.

Though the functionality is quite different, no-flush urinals actually look fairly similar to their traditional counterparts. You can purchase them in fiberglass, stainless steel, and vitreous China. Waterless urinals can easily be integrated into your existing plumbing system as well.

Upfront Costs

When comparing costs, most business owners look at the initial investment, and rightly so. While you’ll see there are many other factors at play when it comes to saving money with no-flush urinals, the upfront costs of the equipment are an important part of the budget. Fortunately, you’ll find the costs quite comparable.

Traditional urinals can cost anywhere from $200 to $900, depending on the style you choose. When you opt for a waterless, no-flush urinal, you can expect to pay between $300 and $800. Most traditional urinals also use urinal cakes or deodorizers, which cost around $2 and typically need to be replaced every 10 to 30 days. Alternatively, the cartridges in waterless urinals should be replaced, on average, every 6 months (or up to a year in less frequented restrooms) and cost between $50 to $100.

Saving Money with No-Flush Urinals

Utility Costs

As the name suggests, swapping your traditional urinals for a waterless option can create a huge savings in your utility costs. According to the EPA, a standard urinal in the average public restroom uses up to 26,000 gallons of water per year. Imagine reducing that number to zero!

Cleaning Costs

Traditional urinals require strong chemicals, scrub brushes, and even more water to keep them properly cleaned. When it comes to cleaning a no-flush model, regular spraying of a manufacturer recommended cleaner is all that is needed. Your maintenance team won’t even need to scrub them! This not only saves time, it saves on cleaning products and even more water, as well.

Maintenance Costs

When a urinal is broken, it can take quite a bit of time and money to get it up and running again. Many issues with traditional urinals are due to the flushing mechanism inside. Because waterless urinals don’t contain a flushing mechanism, they are much easier to maintain. The cartridge and seal in the drain also drastically reduces the number of clogs and blockages in the drain line.

Odor Control Costs

When a standard urinal is flushed, it can actually spray particles of urine and bacteria into the air, creating an unpleasant odor that can often be detected even outside the restroom. A no-flush solution uses a seal to keep odors and gasses in the drain pipe, not the building. This will save on air fresheners, deodorizers, and more.

Additional Savings 

In addition to saving on utility bills, maintenance, and cleaning supplies, you may also save on the purchase of your no-flush urinals. Many water utility companies will offer rebates and incentives to business owners that install waterless urinals. These incentives could range from a partial reimbursement to a full reimbursement for the equipment itself. Be sure to check with your utility company to learn about your potential savings.

Save Money with No-Flush Urinals

When it comes to saving your business money, there’s no comparison. While the initial costs for standard and waterless urinals are around the same price, that’s where the similarities end. Without a gallon of water or more with every flush, you could save big on utility bills. You’ll save even more water when it comes to cleaning your new urinals, and maintenance costs will be drastically reduced. Check to see if your local water utility company is offering incentives, and you may be able to save even more on the cost of your equipment. When you choose to install no-flush urinals, it won’t just benefit the environment but your operating costs too.

If you’re thinking about installing waterless urinals, you might be wondering about unpleasant restroom odors for your customers, patients, or employees. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that waterless urinals are actually designed to cut down on restroom odors. As long as you properly clean and maintain your new no-flush urinals, those unpleasant odors will stay in the drain pipe, not your restrooms.

How Waterless Urinals Work

A waterless urinal is an environmentally-friendly and cost-saving alternative to traditional urinals. Rather than employing a flushing mechanism to move water and urine through the drain, a waterless urinal is designed to clear the basin without the use of water. When this no-flush urinal is used, urine flows toward a disposable cartridge and seal within the drain.

The cartridge contains a liquid that is lighter than urine, so when the waste enters, it sinks to the bottom and then through the drain. The seal completely closes the drain at the base of the urinal. This keeps all of the gasses and odors in the drain, not the restroom.

Using Waterless Urinals Can Reduce Odor in Your Restrooms

Many people assume that traditional urinals would control odor better than no-flush models, simply because the water would wash down the urine and any smells that come with it. However, that’s often not the case. Flushable urinals may rinse the basin with each use, but they are also spraying particles of urine and bacteria throughout the air. Business owners typically use urinal cakes to combat the smell, but instead of eliminating odors, they only mask them. Waterless urinals, on the other hand, may actually reduce the unpleasant odors in your restrooms in a variety of ways.

Urine Can’t Stick to the Bowl

Purleve ZeroFlush urinals are made of stainless steel or vitreous China. These non-porous surfaces keep the urine from sticking to the side of the bowl. In addition, the design includes a deep, sloped bowl which quickly pulls urine toward the drain, rather than letting it linger inside the basin. Alternately, when a traditional urinal is flushed repeatedly, limescale begins to form, and it can start to absorb the urine before it makes its way to the drain.

Less Bacterial Growth

Urine on its own is actually sterile. It’s not until the urine is mixed with water that bacteria begin to grow and spread. Waterless urinals drastically reduce bacterial growth inside the bowl, and they also keep particles from being propelled into the air when flushed.

The Seal is Designed to Keep Odors Away

Urinal cakes may be slightly effective at covering up odors with a chemically created scent, but they cannot completely eliminate odors in the bowl and drain. A seal is designed to do just that. As urine runs through the seal and cartridge, the seal completely closes off the drain, blocking any odors or gasses from the drain from making their way into the restroom.

Properly Maintaining and Cleaning Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals have been designed to keep unpleasant odors at bay, so if you begin to detect a smell from your restrooms, it’s likely a sign that cleaning or maintenance is needed. It’s important to note, however, that your no-flush urinals should not be cleaned in the same way you’ve been cleaning your traditional urinals.

Fortunately, it’s actually easier to clean a waterless urinal. Simply spray the inside of the bowl regularly with a manufacturer approved cleaner. This will break down any residual urine organically, without the need for scrubbing or even rinsing. In fact, scrubbing and rinsing the inside of the toilet could damage the smooth surface, creating tiny cracks or limescale where urine can begin to collect. For this reason, be sure to train your cleaning staff on this new cleaning method.

Replacing your cartridges and seals is one more factor in keeping odors away. Over time, the chemical agent inside the cartridge will begin to deplete, and the seal, which is responsible for keeping odors and gasses inside the drain, could loosen. There are a wide variety of cartridges on the market. Some may need replacement after 1500 flushes, while others could last up to 7500 flushes, so be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and replace these items as needed.

Making the switch to waterless urinals won’t just save on your utility bills, it could save on cleaning, maintenance, and unpleasant odors as well! With its non-porous finish and no-flush design, urine and bacteria won’t stick to the side of the bowl or be sprayed throughout the room. Cleaning couldn’t be easier, either. A simple spray of manufacturer recommended cleaner and regular replacement of the cartridge and seal is all that is needed to keep your water bills down and your restroom smelling great for years to come.

The green building movement has taken off in recent years, and for good reason. Not only are green building products environmentally friendly, they can often save money as well. Whether you’re thinking of applying for LEED certification or you simply want a more economical choice for your restrooms, consider making the switch to waterless urinals.

What is a Waterless Urinal?

Unlike a traditional urinal, which uses both water and a flushing mechanism to move urine through the drain line, a waterless urinal (also known as a no-flush urinal) is an environmentally friendly option with a simple design. According to the EPA, older traditional urinals can use up to 26,000 gallons of water per year, while current federal standards require a urinal to use no more than 1 gallon per flush. A no-flush urinal, on the other hand, uses just a few gallons per year in maintenance and cleaning.

While they function quite differently than a conventional urinal, these no-flush options can be easily integrated into existing bathrooms. Most waterless urinals are designed to fit into conventional plumbing systems, making for easy installation. Like traditional urinals, they can be purchased in fiberglass, vitreous china, and stainless steel.

Where Waterless Urinals are Typically Used

Because most waterless urinals can easily be installed with traditional plumbing, they can be used anywhere a conventional urinal can be found. However, because of their cost-saving nature, they have become the popular choice for government buildings, military facilities, and even some school districts. Places that see a large influx of visitors, like stadiums, museums, and aquariums, are also making the switch to waterless urinals.

In addition, waterless urinals are commonly installed in:

• Healthcare facilities
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Office buildings
• Shopping malls

How Waterless Urinals Work

When you think of waterless toilets, a port-a-potty or compostable park toilet may come to mind. Thankfully, a waterless urinal is clean and odorless, much more like a conventional urinal than those off-the-grid options. Once the urinal is used, gravity carries the urine from the sloped basin to a trap, which consists of a disposable cartridge and seal.

The cartridge is filled with a liquid or chemical that is less dense than the urine, helping it flow through the trap and down the drain. The seal prevents odors and sewer gasses from making their way into the restroom. If the cartridge is replaced regularly, the no-flush system will continue to work effectively and odorlessly.

Benefits of Using a Waterless Urinal

Whether you are building a new facility or considering making a change in your existing restrooms, a waterless urinal comes with many benefits for you, your business, and your guests. These include:

• Water Conservation: Consider eliminating up to 26,000 gallons of water per toilet, per year! Not only is that better for the environment, it’s better for your budget!

• Rebates: Your water utility company may offer rebates or incentives for making the switch. This could help cover some of the cost of purchasing or installing your waterless urinals. 

• Green Certification: If you are looking to qualify for the LEED program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, this is a great start. Installing waterless urinals will help you earn credits for water reduction.

• Cleaner Air: While it’s not pleasant to think about, the water in toilets and traditional urinals often carries bacteria that can be released into the air when flushed. A waterless urinal requires no flushing and dries out between uses to keep bacteria from spreading through the air.

• Hygiene: Waterless urinals are completely touch-free, without the need to pull a handle or push a button. This helps reduce the chance of cross-contamination.

• Fewer Repairs: While regular maintenance is necessary, the absence of a flushing mechanism drastically reduces the need for repairs. In addition, without water moving through the system regularly, clogs and overflows will be minimal.

Tips for Cleaning and Maintenance

Like traditional urinals, waterless urinals will require regular maintenance to continue working efficiently. Follow manufacturer recommendations on the lifespan of the cartridge and change it as needed. If the liquid inside the cartridge dissipates, it can have an effect on drainage and odor control.

Cleaning and disinfecting the urinals is simple. Most can be cleaned with a spray cleaner and soft cloth. Manufacturers typically advise against using too much water in the cleaning process, which can affect the liquid in the trap and lead to clogs in the line.

Purleve ZeroFlush can Save Time and Money

Are you considering waterless urinals for your business? Purleve ZeroFlush is a waterless system backed by years of proven technology. Whether you are focused on the environment or innovation, ZeroFlush can provide you cost savings and improve your restroom sanitation without odors or difficult maintenance. Combined with the Purleve Liquid Odor Barrier System or Purleve EnviroSeal, you’ll have an easy-to-install, high-quality urinal system that won’t just rival conventional urinal systems, it’ll surpass them.

The PurLeve ZeroFlush Odor Barrier is designed to eliminate strong odors in your zero water urinal system. With a quick and easy installation along with simple daily maintenance, the odor barrier insert is the perfect addition to your zero water urinal.

First Time Installation

The liquid odor barrier can be installed with just three basic steps.

Cartridge Replacement

To replace your cartridge, remove the current drain insert, rinse the waste, and replace with a new insert as outlined below.

Daily Maintenance

Keep your urinal in tip top condition with these three daily maintenance tips.