How to Keep Urinals from Clogging

Urinal clogs can make a restroom go completely out of service and create a strong odor. Additionally, mineral buildup on the urinals can create a gross image for users. It’s also hard to know when a drain clog will happen, so it’s best to be prepared. Restrooms are a big part of every business and keeping them clean is important to making sure everyone is happy. If the restroom is dirty, then managers will constantly hear complaints about it. 

At State Chemical, we’ve helped facilities maintain restroom drain systems for decades. We have worked with countless facilities of all types that solve everyday restroom problems with our solutions. In this guide, we’ll explain what causes urinal clogs and the best ways to fix them. 

Urinals clog based on a variety of reasons, but most commonly happen as a result of uric acid from urine combining with minerals in water to form a buildup around the drain edges. This occurs slowly over time, as uric acid will build up in your urinals’ drains with everyday use. It’s hard to see the buildup, but once the clog occurs, it becomes very noticeable. 

It’s best to look out for gum, hair, and paper towels in urinals, as they frequently lead to drain clogs as well. Depending on how your facilities’ restrooms are used, you may be more or less likely to experience a drain clog this way. These kinds of clogs can stop urinals from working suddenly, so be aware of them. The drain can quickly create a mess in the restroom if left unattended for too long. 

The Impact Clogged Urinals Have on Operations 

Clogged urinal drains can shut down entire restroom operations if the problem is severe enough. Urinal clogs can flood an entire restroom, which isn’t good. This will make the entire restroom unusable and requires significant maintenance to be remedied once it occurs. During this time, both guests and employees will be unable to use the restroom. This is why even a small urinal clog can create large issues. 

A clogged urinal can create problems outside the drain system as well. There is an overflow risk for affected urinals, resulting in potential spills on the restroom floor. It will create additional work for your team, as now they’ll need to clean overflowed areas along with the original urinal drain clog. Even if a clog is identified and remedied, the remaining spill can create a strong odor that’s difficult to fully clean. For these reasons, it’s best to find the right solution for each drain issue to ensure that additional work isn’t needed for a drain clog. 

 Best Solutions for Urinal Clogs  

Some clogs are minor and may only require a gallon of hot water to help push debris through your drain pipes.  To test, put a bucket under the urinal and begin pouring water into it. After emptying water into your urinal drain, check for any drainage improvements. It may have only been a slight blockage in the drain. In most cases, urinal clogs require stronger solutions, but water is a good first step to try fixing the drain clog. 

When water alone won’t clear the drain, you’ll need a chemical drain opener such as Drain Rocket™ to quickly open the urinal drains again. It works by cutting through standing water already in your drain and will quickly bond with and break down material such as hair, lint, and other debris in your drain. To test whether the clog is resolved, reapply hot water to the urinal to check if the drain’s health has improved. It’s recommended to use additional Drain Rocket™ if the hot water didn’t clear out all the debris, as there may be some larger mineral deposits left over from the initial application. 

Check on how the urinal drain is doing after applying more product, to make sure it’s improving. Each drain has its own issues, so it’s important to use a good amount of product until the problem is fixed. 

 Ways To Keep Your Urinals Drains Clear 

Keeping your urinals clear is one of the best actions you can take to mitigate the risk of a urinal clog. If foreign objects in urinals are the main cause of your issues, you may want to put signs up showing where the nearest trash can is. Checking the urinal bowl for debris items routinely can help prevent future clogs. If you don’t want the hassle of constantly checking the urinal bowl, an Ultra-Low Splash Magic Mat™ can easily catch items such as gum, paper towels, cigarette butts, and chewing tobacco before they cause any issues. They also help the restroom smell clean by removing any odors. 

If your issues are not caused by objects or buildup, you’ll want to use State® A‑Salt™, a specialized drain cleaner designed for minerals found in urinal drains. It works by bonding with minerals and breaking them down, resulting in consistently clear drains. The formula is non-acidic, meaning you don’t have to worry about any additional wear on your drain system when using State® A‑Salt™. 

 Prevent Urinal Clogs with Preventative Maintenance Programs 

If you keep having problems with drain odors, our team can help. Our product specialists will routinely visit your establishment once a month to check for any drain issues in your restrooms. You’re able to tailor this program to your liking, choosing if you want only urinal drain service or extend it to other parts of the restroom as well.  

You won’t need to keep checking your drains, as we can do that for you. Our specialists are happy to answer any questions you have about the products and their respective technologies. You can choose which products come included in your program and customize based on your facility’s needs. Once you see what our products can do, order based on your preferences. 

Want to learn more about our drain opening products and what they offer? Then check out our drain maintainer and opener products here!