I was doing some research on commercial plumbing when I ran across a page discussing urinal repairs. The page was part of the website of a Salt Lake City-area plumbing company doing business under the name Beehive Plumbing. Beehive offers both residential and commercial services. Apparently, urinal repairs are on their service list.
That got me wondering about what types of urinal repairs a commercial plumber would be called in to handle. Strangely, I have been using urinals all my life, yet it never occurred to me that they might need repairs every now and again.
Clearing Clogs and Blockages
The toilets in our homes get clogged from time to time. That’s why most of us keep a plunger next to the toilet. Well, public restroom urinals suffer from the same thing. Clogs and blockages are not unusual – especially because people have a habit of throwing all sorts of things into them.
A commercial plumber could use any number of tools to clear a blockage. Plungers and augurs immediately come to mind. If a plumber suspects mineral buildup or some other type of clog that will not be dislodged by an auger or plunger, a chemical cleaner would be a good second choice.
Fixing Water Pressure Issues
Urinals are designed to work at a specific water pressure for maximum efficiency. If the water pressure is too low, a urinal will not be thoroughly rinsed with each flush. If it is too high, it creates a mess. So when water pressure isn’t just right, a commercial plumber is the one to call.
A urinal has a flush pressure regulator that can be adjusted as long as it’s working properly. If a plumber attempts adjustments and that doesn’t solve the problem, he is likely to replace the pressure regulator altogether.
Fixing Flush Mechanisms
Urinals can come with either manual or automatic flushing systems. A manual system typically has a handle or button mounted above the urinal itself. An automatic system is fitted with a sensor designed to detect movement. As a user walks away, the urinal automatically flushes. Note that even automatic flushing systems tend to have a manual override button.
When a urinal is not flushing properly, Plumbers typically look at faulty flush valves on manual systems and sensors on automatic systems. One or the other is usually the problem. Sometimes they both need to be replaced.
Repairing Leaks
A urinal can leak from any one of several locations. It can leak where the incoming water line meets the unit, where the unit drains, or even from the porcelain body of the urinal itself. A plumber is the one to call for such problems.
Water line and drain connections can be repaired or replaced easily enough. But if the porcelain body of a urinal is cracked or broken, there is no way to repair it. The entire thing will have to be replaced. That’s a major job for a commercial plumber.
Addressing Odor Problems
Urinal odors are normally controlled with the use of urinal cakes or other similar deodorizing strategies. But if foul odors persist despite a property owner’s best efforts, there may be something else in play. A plumber would be called out to potentially clear the vent stack or even descale the offending urinal.
It seems obvious that commercial urinals need repairs from time to time. I had never thought of it myself. But now that I have, I have a greater appreciation for the work commercial plumbers do. I am not a fan of minor plumbing work in my own home. I certainly would not want to fix a broken urinal.
