Home :: Maintaining and Cleaning Converted Urinals
Printable version of this page

Maintaining and Cleaning Converted Urinals

        (click here for a PDF version of this page)
Regular Cleaning
  • DO NOT USE INCOMPATIBLE CLEANING PRODUCTS
  • Remove debris from bowl
  • Spray over all surfaces with Bactericidal Cleaner, mixed 9 parts water to 1 part chemical
  • Wipe surfaces

The cartridges dispense living organisms that ‘digest’ urine to prevent odours and blockages. Products with a phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorine or bleach base will kill the organisms and stop the system from working, resulting in odours and blockages. In the event that the use of acid is required, the cartridge MUST first be removed and then the acid neutralised by thorough sluicing before the cartridge is re-inserted. 

Dosing/Sluicing to Prevent Blockages
  • Mix 900ml of warm water from the washroom hot tap with 100ml of Bactericidal Cleaner,  and pour 1 litre of solution rapidly into the urinal. 
  • Recommended once per week for most urinals, but may be needed twice weekly for very busy washrooms such as in 24/7 factories, night clubs and airport lounges.

Hair and other debris will inevitably fall into the urinal and then into the waste pipes. If a blockage is to be avoided, debris must be pushed down to the main drain. The flow of urine alone is often insufficient to accomplish this but sluicing will normally be successful. Using Bactericidal Cleaner, mixed with warm water, also breaks down uric acid salts that may be deposited in the pipework. Moreover, the bactericide kills most of the microbes dispensed by the cartridge over the past week, giving room for fresh microbes to repopulate therefore improving the efficiency of the system

Changing the Cartridge
  • The cartridge should be changed every 3 months
  • Pull the cartridge vertically from the waste outlet, then dispose of safely
  • Follow the dosing/sluicing procedure described above 
  • Insert new cartridge and twist slowly until it drops down and sits neatly
 
Troubleshooting
The most usual cause of odour or blockage is due to the procedures above not being followed. Microbiological retrofit systems have no moving parts so rely on the action of living organisms. If incompatible cleaning products are repeatedly used, the organisms will stop performing their function. Moreover, if regular dosing/sluicing is not carried out, uric salt sludge will build-up in the trap and waste pipes, resulting in a blockage. 
 
If you are experiencing problems with a Gentworks retrofit system, please do not hesitate to call us on 0345 202 4535. We will always do our best to help.