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5 reasons why waterless urinals are better

Waterless urinals gross? Think again! Here are 5 reasons why waterless urinals are better for both you and the environment. The answers might surprise you!

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1. Waterless urinals save up to 5 times more water than regular urinals

You might’ve guessed this, but:

Waterless urinals save up to 70 gallons of water more than regular urinals simply because you don’t have to flush each time you pee. 70 gallons of water per year is the same amount as 3 swimming pools combined. Therefore waterless urinals are great for those on a tight budget.

Saving water isn’t only beneficiary for your water bill, it’s also better for the environment. Using a waterless urinal = being eco-friendly!

Did you know that you can also install a regular urinal in your home?

waterless urinal

2. Waterless urinals are very low maintenance

Waterless urinals are extremely low maintenance. There is no calcium buildup as they do not use water. No water also means no bacteria as they need water to survive. Some waterless urinal brands only need to be sprayed with a solution every once in a while.

Other brands of waterless urinals only require you to exchange their barrier every 3-4 months and don’t require cleaning at all.

If you are grossed out by this idea, here is a DIY natural toilet cleaner recipe.

3. Waterless urinals don’t emit any odors

Contrary to popular belief:

Waterless urinals do not emit any odor. This is because the odor gets trapped behind a barrier that blocks the odor from ”leaking” back into the bathroom. These barriers can be liquid, in the form of a microbiological block or a valve. All types of barriers have their pros and cons.

I’ll talk about these pros and cons later in this article.

4. Waterless urinals are more hygienic than regular urinals

Since there is no water waterless urinals are less hygienic, arent they? Think again!

Since waterless urinals don’t have to be flushed the user doesn’t have to touch anything, meaning no transferring of bacteria from one person to the other. There are also no particles that will be sprayed into the air after a flush- as there will be no flush.

5. Waterless urinals are easy to install due to no flushing mechanism

A waterless urinal is easier to install than a regular urinal as there is no flushing mechanism to install. This means that you can have your urinal up and running in a matter of minutes. You also don’t need to hook up your water supply line.

Here’s a video that explains how to install a waterless urinal:

If you’re unsure how to do this contact your local plumbing services just to be sure.

How do waterless urinals work?

Waterless urinals work by draining urine through a barrier that blocks odor. This barrier can be a liquid oil, a simple valve, or a block containing certain microbiology. Since waterless urinals don’t use water no bacteria can survive and multiply on a dry surface, and thus no smell will appear.

These barriers are either built into the toilet or use cartridges that need to be exchanged every 3-4 months, depending on how often the urinal is used.

Certain brands have created their own patented design which is why there are a few different ways to maintain and clean different waterless urinals. Read the instructions before buying any cartridge or cleanser.

Different kinds of waterless urinals

There are 2 different kinds of waterless urinals:

  • Basic waterless urinals
    • Cheapest option
    • It’s basically a funnel with a hose
    • Great for places without plumbing
  • Urinals with a barrier
    • Liquid oil barrier
      • Urine passes through an oil-like liquid that blocks odor
    • A valve
      • Closes once urine gets past, blocking odor
    • Microbiology block
      • When the block comes in contact with urine the micro-bacteria eat the urine, breaking it down, preventing smells.

Basic waterless urinals are urinals that simply catch urine and drain it through a pipe. You can simply mount this (plastic) urinal anywhere you want. A lot of people don’t even hook up the drain to any pipes. These types of waterless urinals are great outdoors.

Urinals with a barrier are great for indoor bathrooms. They look elegant (depending on the brand of course) and have no smell to them due to the barrier. I highly recommend getting one of these when picking a urinal for your home.

Always read the instructions on how your particular waterless urinal work, as some, need different ways of maintenance.

Are there any disadvantages to a waterless urinal?

Every toilet has pros and cons, just like a waterless urinal. Let’s talk about a con of having a waterless urinal:

The only downside that comes to mind is that waterless urinals cannot be used when you have copper pipes. Pure concentrated urine causes erosion to copper pipes which may cause leaks. Another disadvantage is that women can’t use them, but that’s more of a urinal thing and not necessarily a waterless urinal thing.

Other than that waterless urinals are great to have.

Which waterless urinal to buy

Here are the best waterless urinals to buy according to user reviews and popularity:

Waterless urinal accessories

Here are some waterless urinal must-haves:

Tip: Always read the instructions of your specific waterless urinal to prevent mistakes in maintenance and cleaning.

As you can see, waterless urinals aren’t that bad. They just have a bad reputation. Now all you need to do is find one that is to your liking!

Disclaimer: TheToiletSpecialist.com is not responsible for any damage caused to your toilet by (wrongly) interpreting information found on this site. Please seek custom advice from a professional to evaluate your current situation.