I need to know what chemical will help dissolve calcium deposits from urinal pipes that are in the wall. Here's the story. I work at in a large industrial setting as a janitor and we have the "less famous" waterless urinals and we're finding when we change the "filters" that there is calcium build up causing the urinal to overflow. The pipes in the wall are pvc and there is no clean out pipes.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mi_smiley

What diameter are the pipes and is the calcium on the inside or out?

Toilet roll soaked in white vinegar dissolves almost any type of scale, it's legend, but you need to leave it to soak on the area to be cleaned.

Or you could try oven cleaner?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iAMfromHuntersBar

What diameter are the pipes and is the calcium on the inside or out?

Toilet roll soaked in white vinegar dissolves almost any type of scale, it's legend, but you need to leave it to soak on the area to be cleaned.

Or you could try oven cleaner?!

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The calcium is inside the pipe going out to the sewer pipes. I think we'd need something in a liquid form to pour down the drain after the waterless urinal filter is taken out. Any suggestions?

It is not calcium, it is urinary salt. We use muratic acid on regular urinals but I would seek advice from the manufacturer before I added chemicals to a mechanical drain. Hate to see yeah have to replace them because yeah added stuff that hurt.
The fumes can hurt, use precaution.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doug238

it is not calcium, it is urinary salt. We use muratic acid on regular urinals but I would seek advice from the manufacturer before I added chemicals to a mechanical drain. Hate to see yeah have to replace them because yeah added stuff that hurt.
The fumes can hurt, use precaution.

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The drain isn't mechanical. The waterless urinals are flushed with collect rain water. Is the muratic acid safe for the environment. I ask because I work at a environment safe factory.

I can not advise against using muratic acid, or any acid, in a enclosed area such as a rest room strongly enough. As a young boy I would take limed up toilet bowls out in the alley behind the shop and boil the lime out of them. Over half a century later my lungs still carry the scar tissue that the acid fumes caused. A few years ago I lost a good friend when he used a commercial drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid in a unvented bathroom. Acid IS NOT A GOOD IDEA to use to clear mineral buildup. Take it from one who's paid the price. Regards, Tom

Try Free Flow, it works great www.nbpproducts.com

Hello Nbplumbing,

You are responding to a 3 1/2 years old thread, Thanks.

John

-- Preventative maintenance seems to be the best way when it comes to urinals. Organic sludge, hard water deposites, and salt are the main cloggers. Organic things such as spit, mucas, food, and other wastes breed, thus expand to clog things. Hard water lime builds up on inner walls, thus contracts to clog things. Salt is a mineral, thus works in the same way as hard water deposites. Humans eat allot of salt which comes out in our urine, therefore proper water flow is a must, but bleach or chlorine disolves the organic muck, and acts like a teflon coating to keep minerals from sticking, thus a simple Para Urinal Block [paradichlorabenzene] will do wonders to prevent clogging. Once clogged replacement is the easiest solution, but one can remove the urinal to a properly ventilated area. Put rubber glove on hands. Carefully scrape out visible deposites. Install plug in back of urinal. Add muratic acid to front. Tilt urinal to fill trap and void in rear. Then let it boil out. Repeat boiling until urinal clean. As for wall pipes. Snake seems to be best and safest route.

John's trying to tell you guys that you're both responding to a dead thread

Go to your local Plumbing Wholesaler and buy Javelin Urinal Drain treatment. JL1010
Www.javelindrainproducts.com

CamOnderisin: you are responding to 4 (four) years old thread.