Replies

1. 
   DanT | Dec 11, 2003 11:11am | #1

   The build up is from the heavy calcium and other deposits in male urine.  Male urine has much more of this than female urine combined with the fact that urninals use smaller amounts of water per flush than toilets so you get less rinsing action.  When I worked in the hotel industry we would have all urinals water jetted yearly as a prevenative maintenance deal to avoid this situation.  DanT

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 11, 2003 07:13pm | #5

   and to think that I was going to blame it on using cheap Home Depost cookies.

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   Turtleneck | Dec 11, 2003 01:44pm | #2

   I'll second the notion that lovely golden crusty buildup is caused by urine.

   I've seen "Mike the plumber" chisel his way through the urinal P-traps with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer in a busy nightclub. My eyes started to water from the stench just walking into the room. I have absolutely no idea how a person could do that without barfing.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Dec 11, 2003 01:55pm | #3

   Try using a product called Calci-Solve by Nu- Calgon.

   We have been using it for six months now, and it seems to be helping clean out the pee-salt in the slow draining urinals.

   Another suggestion is to add auto flush valves to the urinals. Cost you a little more in water, but our experience tells us that most men don't flush urinals. I work maintenance in commercial office building, if the suits won't flush, do you really think bar patrons will?

   Dave

1. 
   sportinwood | Dec 11, 2003 06:44pm | #4

   I resent that!!  I flush, sometimes. :) 

   Excuse me ((BURRPP!)), I gotta pee!

2. 
   AdamB | Dec 11, 2003 08:48pm | #6

   would dumping some CLR in there overnight help?

   if so, that might be simple cheap way to avoid chipping away at it.

   (that sounds like something I would go a long way to avoid)Christmas is coming..... should I buy the wife that new tablesaw ....hmmmm

3. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 11, 2003 09:18pm | #7

   >> Another suggestion is to add auto flush valves to the urinals.

   Or the low initial cost version of that is to set the urinals up to run just a trickle of water continuously.

3. 
   4Lorn2 | Dec 12, 2003 01:17am | #8

   Used to maintain a bar. Bathrooms always a problem. Secret weapons: Bleach/water solution sprinkled like holy water on the undead and plain white vinegar. The former foams and fumes, good time for a coffee break as the fumes fight off the late weekend funk, when it hits uric acid from poor marksmanship while the later if a couple of cups are poured in after cleaning does a good job on the calcium. Liked it better than the stronger CLR as it can be poured and forgotten and won't etch the porcelain. It is also a lot cheaper at about $1 a gallon.