Urinal clogs happen on commercial properties, but most people don’t know how to unclog them. There are a few tips that can help you save time and money by avoiding using expensive equipment.
Why Are Urinal Clogs So Bad For Commercial Properties?
Urinal clogs can have a direct impact on the value and earning potential of commercial properties. When urinals become clogged, it can cause water to back up and overflow, leading to extensive damage. In addition, the repair costs associated with fixing a urinal clog can be significant. This is why it’s so important for commercial property owners to take steps to prevent urinal clogs from happening in the first place.
If a urinal clog is left too long, residents or tenants may no longer want to pay to live or work there. In some extreme cases, urinal clogs can even lead to the sale of a commercial property. This is why it’s so important to take action as soon as you notice a potential problem.
There are a number of things that can cause urinal clogs, including foreign objects being flushed down the toilet, grease, and hair buildup. These simply need to be removed fast!
Urinal Clogs: What Causes Them?
The cause of the blockage must be investigated before learning how to unclog a urinal. Most urinals get blocked owing to excessive concentrations of uric acids, uric salt crystals, and calcium, even though there is no evident obstruction. These minerals are derived from urine or urinal water.
Uric acids and sediments may build up in the p-trap of a urinal over time, producing a blockage. This is a rather simple remedy. Urinals may get blocked by material such as paper or cigarette butts if mineral accumulation is not the reason.
How to Remove Calcium Deposits from Urinals
Dissolving urine crystals is a process that can be used to unclog urinals on commercial properties. The process involves dissolving the urine crystals with water and then washing them down the drain.
A business property owner’s understanding of how to unclog a urinal is crucial. Because urinals are found in both male and female toilets, a blocked urinal is nearly unavoidable at some point. A defective urinal at a business facility must be rectified as quickly as feasible, even if it is not a pleasant experience. A blocked urinal’s obstruction and subsequent mess not only stinks but also reflects negatively on your organization or property.
Fixing a blocked urinal isn’t difficult if you follow the right methods, however, the severity of the obstruction will determine how tough it is.
If calcium or uric acid accumulation is the cause of your blocked urinals, clearing the blockage is a simple operation. Detergents and soaps, for example, are ineffective against uric and mineral deposits. Urinal cleanser solutions that are enzyme-based and intended to break down uric crystals as well as eliminate the odor are the best alternatives for eliminating mineral buildup. A urinal drain cleaner also cleans your urinals by removing rust and lime deposits. Some urinal cleaners, on the other hand, maybe poisonous and harmful to your property, health, and the environment. When purchasing a urinal drain cleaning, be cautious or utilize safer, alternative ways.
A urinal descaler is required to remove calcium accumulation in urinals caused by hard water. A natural urinal descaler may be made by combining vinegar, lemon, and a tiny bit of water in a solution. Allow a towel to soak in the mixture overnight, then clean the urinal with it, or pour vinegar into the afflicted urinal and leave it to rest for a few hours. It should soften the calcium deposits sufficiently that they may be washed off after a few hours.
Muriatic acid is a strong solution of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, which may be used to unclog urinals on commercial properties.
How to Use a Plunger to Unclog a Urinal
A plunger may be the best solution if the source of a blocked urinal seems to be a simple obstruction. Remove any cake or plastic inserts from the urinal’s drain, as well as any other waste that shouldn’t be there. Remove the drain cover by unscrewing it and removing it from the drain hole.
Place a plunger over the drain after that. You should be able to hear the drainpipe make noise after numerous pumps of the plunger. Flush the blocked urinal to determine whether the problem has been resolved. If the water runs all the way down, your urinal is repaired!
Some urinals, however, are clogged with dirt that cannot be removed with a plunger. Using equipment like a urinal auger may be essential in these situations.
How to Clear a Clogged Urinal Without Using a Plunger
A blocked or slow-draining urinal may often be caused by debris, such as hair and other dense materials, that are too difficult to remove using a plunger. A urinal auger will be required in this scenario to snake the drain and clear clogs. This equipment has a drum and a strong cable that may be inserted into a drain to dislodge the clog. The coils at the end of the snake trap any hair or debris, preventing it from dislodging and obstructing the drain farther down.
Technique For Snakeing A Urinal
You may have snaking done professionally or at home using a store-bought urinal auger. Pull out the coil from the drum’s bottom and use your non-dominant hand to grasp the urinal auger’s handle. Begin by inserting the end of a few feet of the coil into the drain.
Turn the handle after inserting the cable into the drain aperture. To begin feeding the coil down the pipe, crank the handle. As you twist the handle, the snake’s coils will go farther down the pipes until they come upon trash. Continue to spin the handle until the snake punctures through the barrier.
When you’ve reached the final few feet of your urinal auger, stop twisting the handle. To pull the coil back towards you, carefully crank the handle in the other way. Remove any debris from the top of the cable after the coil has returned.
It’s probable that the urinal auger did not collect all of the trash it carried up with it. Repeat the procedure multiple times to ensure that all hair and other dense material is removed. Furthermore, depending on the obstruction, your snake may not have produced any results. However, this does not rule out the possibility of a blockage. A major blockage will need the assistance of a specialist.
How To Unclog A Urinal With Professional Assistance
If you’re convinced the blocked urinal can’t be fixed using the plumbing gear you currently have, the next step should be to contact a professional plumber. Urinals that are clogged are not something you want to have on your business site. A wide variety of plumbing services should be available in your area, including urinal unclogging. All commercial building plumbing issues may be handled by a knowledgeable professional for a reasonable charge.
For related information, see How Video Drain Inspections Save You Time and Money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unclog a commercial urinal?
A: In most instances, you should contact a plumber.
Can you pour Drano down a urinal?
A: No, because Drano can damage the pipes of the urinal.
Why is my urinal not draining?
A: If your urinal is not functioning properly, try pouring a little more water down the drain before flushing. Try flushing multiple times. If it continues to be backed up, there is likely a clog.
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- urinal descaler
- drain auger
- can you snake a toilet