If you are a maintenance person who services Sloan Waterfree Urinals, then this article is for you! Sloan waterfree urinals are fantastic fixtures to install if you want to save water, lower sewage bills, and attain LEED certifications. This blog will show you the most up to date Sloan waterfree urinal cartridge information with step-by-step instructions. You will learn the most common mistakes when it comes to servicing Sloan waterfree urinals. You can read our frequently asked questions about waterfree urinals and waterfree urinal cartridge replacement. We also include links to all the waterfree urinal fixtures, cartridges, and cartridge replacement tools we have in our online store. Read on to get all of this information in our waterfree urinal cartridge replacement guide.
Sloan Waterfree Urinal Replacement Instructions
*The step by step instructions below are from Sloan Valve’s Installation & Operating Instruction Manual. We have adapted their instructions to include our tips and additional information.
1. Insert the key into the cartridge.
2. Turn key to the left (counterclockwise) to unlock the waterfree urinal cartridge.
3. Lift and tilt the cartridge to drain it of all liquids (water, sealant, urine).
4. Place cartridge into the garbage bag. *Caution: After removing the cartridge, sewer gases may escape through the opening until the new cartridge is installed. If cartridge will not be replaced immediately, place a rag or paper towels into the opening to block any sewer gases.
5. Scrub the housing, drain nipple, and deep inside of the tailpipe with a long 1.5-inch diameter nylon brush.
6. Flush the housing with 5 gallons of hot soapy water.
7. Wipe the inner stainless steel rim clean.
8. Insert the new waterfree urinal cartridge using the key. Turn key to the right (clockwise) to lock and click the new cartridge into place.
9. Slowly fill the new cartridge with 1 quart or more of clean water until there are no air bubbles.
10. Add blue sealant (allow time to drain into the cartridge).
11. Spray (mist) cleaner to wipe the surface of the urinal and around the cartridge. Wipe clean.
Common Waterfree Maintenance Mistakes
This is a must read for those who maintain Sloan waterfree urinals or plan on buying them in the future. Below are the two most common mistakes that are made, and these mistakes often result in more problems whose solutions are difficult to identify. Avoid making these mistakes by properly maintaining your waterfree urinals. If you follow these instructions, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Mistake #1: Flushing the waterfree urinal cartridge with water after the sealant has been administered.
The most common Sloan waterfree urinal maintenance mistake is flushing the cartridge with water AFTER the blue sealant has been added. Flushing the cartridge with water after the sealant has been added will flush the sealant down the drain, which in turn causes the causes the cartridge not to work properly. The smell of urine will come back through the cartridge if there is no sealant in the cartridge.
Mistake #2: Failing to clean the housing and drain nipple when changing the urinal cartridge.
The second most common mistake when performing maintenance of waterfree urinals is failing to properly clean all areas of the urinal and housing cartridge each time the cartridge is replaced. The short, horizontal drain nipple gets clogged by struvite, which is a water-soluble biosolid found in urine. Struvite that accumulates in the housing and drain nipple causes a slow flow of urine out of the urinal if the struvite is not properly removed. It can be removed with a bottle brush and some soapy water. This should be done each time a cartridge is replaced.
Waterfree Urinal Cartridge FAQs
How much water do waterless urinals save?
Waterless urinals can save up to 40,000 gallons of water each year. This enables buildings to gain maximum LEED credits for their urinal fixtures. They also greatly reduce water and sewage costs.
When does a waterfree urinal cartridge need to be replaced?
Cartridges need to be replaced every 3 months or every 7,000 uses.
The easiest way to schedule cartridge replacement is to simply replace it every 3 months, which works for most locations. Urinals that get more use, however, may need to be replaced sooner than every 3 months.
One way to figure out how many days your cartridge will last until it needs to be replaced is to count restroom traffic for a duration of time. For example, if you count 10 users over the period of an hour, then divide 7,000 by 10, then you would find that your cartridges need to be replaced every 700 hours which equates to approximately 29 days. (Divide 700 by 24 to convert hours to days.) If there is more than one waterfree urinal in the restroom, then divide the number of users per hour by the number of waterfree urinals. Then divide 7000 thousand by that number, and finally divide that number by 24 to get the numbers of days before you need to change the cartridge.
Other signs that your waterfree urinal cartridge needs to be replaced:
- If your restroom starts to smell like urine even when they are clean, that is a sign that your cartridges need to be replaced.
- The blue indicator on top of the cartridge is no longer visible
- Fluid flows very slowly into the cartridge
- Blue sealant appears on top of the cartridge
What urinals use waterfree urinal cartridges?
The following Sloan urinal models are waterfree urinals that utilize WES-150 waterfree urinal cartridges:
- WES-1000
- WES-4000
- WES-7000
How do I clean the urinal bowl without using water?
Cleaning the urinal bowl without ruining the urinal cartridge (water removes the sealant) is simple. Use a spray cleaner and then wipe the bowl down with a rag, sponge, or mop.
Where to Buy Waterfree Urinal Cartridge Filters and Cartridge Removing Tools
We sell the waterfree urinal cartridge filter kits and the heavy duty cartridge removing tool at Equiparts. The waterfree urinal cartridge filter comes with everything needed to complete the repair: the cartridge, disposable gloves, a small garbage bag, a cartridge removing tool, and blue sealant. We also sell a heavy duty cartridge removing tool that is a higher quality cartridge removing tool than the tool that comes in the kit. It is a one time purchase that makes cartridge extraction easier. It features a longer handle which enables the maintenance personnel removing the cartridge to stand further away from the urinal and thus be further away from the sewage gases that may escape from the open drain during cartridge replacement.
Use the links below to view the cartridge filter kit and the cartridge removing tool on our website, or give us a call to order today.
Toll-Free: 800-442-6622
Pittsburgh: 412-781-9100
Mon-Fri 7:30am – 5pm EST
Waterfree Urinal Cartridge Filter
Sloan Model WES150
EC Part #05317
Call or submit a quote online to order
Heavy Duty Cartridge Removing Tool
Sloan Model WES7
EC Part #56706
Call or submit a quote online to order
appliances. Only then can you display EPA WaterSense labels, which informs consumers that you care about the environment and wasting water. So when will water usage laws change in Pennsylvania? Who knows. Will it change and likely mirror California’s restrictions? Yes. Will EPA WaterSense stipulations eventually rise to reflect the new water saving models now available? Yes.
Reclaimed Water Flushometer
Did you ever wish you could occasionally flush your waterfree urinal just to eliminate odor and wash down the old pipes? Now you can with the new Sloan Hybrid Urinal with Jetrinse technology.