Quizzes & Puzzles8 mins ago
urinals
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in mens urinals [toilets] there is always a build up in the p traps. calcium i think . what chemicle will break it down?
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What a great question!
A few things occur to me about this but first I'd like some further information.
First of all, what makes you think it's calcium? Can you describe the build up better? Is there any trace of this build up in the urinal bowl itself?
Secondly, are any type of deodorising blocks used in the urinal? These might include those large tablet-like blocks that are usually bright in colour that sit around the drainage hole.
A few things occur to me about this but first I'd like some further information.
First of all, what makes you think it's calcium? Can you describe the build up better? Is there any trace of this build up in the urinal bowl itself?
Secondly, are any type of deodorising blocks used in the urinal? These might include those large tablet-like blocks that are usually bright in colour that sit around the drainage hole.
Ah, Prof - what a sheltered life you lead ! In urinals that don't get proper cleaning, there's commonly a buildup of what looks like limescale. This occurs even in soft water areas and is apparenly caused by uric acid. If left unchecked, it can lead to blockage of the outflow.
Bleach has little effect on it, but there are many cleaning products on the market that will break down these deposits. Google for something like 'urinal scale'.
Bleach has little effect on it, but there are many cleaning products on the market that will break down these deposits. Google for something like 'urinal scale'.
Hmm, you're right heathfield, I must get out more. I don't notice these things as I take one of my female research assistants with me to give me a hand. I just keep my hands behind my back.
I was trying to establish if there was any chance that this build up was composed of napthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both of which are major constituents of these toilet blocks. It is possible that parts of these blocks might cause a build up in the trap.
As far as what the substance is, it really depends on the overall pH of the urine going down the pipe. Acid urine usually has uric acid, cystine, oxalates and urates in it, all of which are fairly insoluble in water. Alkaline urine has insoluble phosphates and calcium carbonate present. So yes, the build up could be calcium salts and/or uric acid etc. In fact, much of this may be due to one person who uses the facilities having one of a number of medical conditions!
With regard to dissolving the build up, there are lots of laboratory chemicals that would do the job. Now obviously, these wouldn't be available for domestic/commercial use, so we have to look for a proprietary product. It seems that some of the best might include Buster Bathroom Drain Cleaner and Woodman Ammo Knockout Drain Cleaner.
i would add that you need to choose a corrosive drain cleaner rather than an enzymatic one (those that claim to "digest" the blockage). enzymatic cleaners would take forever to do a job like this and might not work at all. All the same, you need to very careful with corrosive cleaners as splashes can have very serious consequences - follow the instructions carefully.
I was trying to establish if there was any chance that this build up was composed of napthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both of which are major constituents of these toilet blocks. It is possible that parts of these blocks might cause a build up in the trap.
As far as what the substance is, it really depends on the overall pH of the urine going down the pipe. Acid urine usually has uric acid, cystine, oxalates and urates in it, all of which are fairly insoluble in water. Alkaline urine has insoluble phosphates and calcium carbonate present. So yes, the build up could be calcium salts and/or uric acid etc. In fact, much of this may be due to one person who uses the facilities having one of a number of medical conditions!
With regard to dissolving the build up, there are lots of laboratory chemicals that would do the job. Now obviously, these wouldn't be available for domestic/commercial use, so we have to look for a proprietary product. It seems that some of the best might include Buster Bathroom Drain Cleaner and Woodman Ammo Knockout Drain Cleaner.
i would add that you need to choose a corrosive drain cleaner rather than an enzymatic one (those that claim to "digest" the blockage). enzymatic cleaners would take forever to do a job like this and might not work at all. All the same, you need to very careful with corrosive cleaners as splashes can have very serious consequences - follow the instructions carefully.
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