FAQ
I have heard of waterless urinal systems using plastic cartridges, what are these?
eco-cube should certainly not be confused with any other waterless system out there! Inserting replacement plastic cartridges into bespoke urinals or urinal fittings is expensive, flawed and over complex (essentially you end up paying for a maintenance and service contract!). The bottom line is that cartridges do not work because they don't have the active microbial capability to seek out and get rid of the issues that cause urinal problems. With 8 billion friendly bacteria per eco-cube nothing else is as effective, as environmentally compliant or as simple as eco-cube in a washroom urinal.
How much water will I save with eco-cube?
Water savings depend on the current water control system in your washroom. Many washrooms have no flush control at all and as a result the urinals probably flush every few minutes wasting up to 12-14 litres of fresh water per flush. The average urinal will flush away 151,000 litres per annum. Some washrooms have a PIR sensor control fitted depending upon how many people enter the washroom but in busy washrooms the urinals will continue to flush on a regular basis. Water and sewage savings between £450-£500 per urinal per annum are typical.
Can I be more exact with the savings for my business?
Yes, we have a cost calculator which when imputed with the right data from your business, takes into account the purchase price of the eco-cube system. Some of our larger clients are generating water savings of over half a million pounds a year. Contact us and we can discuss your savings in more detail.
How long does a cube last in each urinal?
An eco-cube will last approx 4 weeks in each urinal. When the cube has dissolved to 10% of its original size, then it should be replaced. In a trough system, one cube should be placed 60 cm apart.
What does the system cost?
There is no need for a capital outlay or a conversion cost upfront. Simply add the cube to your existing urinal and turn off the water at the urinal tap and follow the Daily Cleaning Instructions! The running cost of eco-cube per urinal is around £1.50 a week. eco-cube should be installed in accordance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
Remember these are replacement costs for your current cleaning materials for the washroom. There are however greater savings to be made in the reduction of water supply charges and sewerage charges. Additional savings can be expected from reduced maintenance costs as there will be fewer urinal pipe blockages from the elimination of uric and lime scale build up. Also with eco-cube there is no need to install expensive chemical sanitizers and air fresheners!
eco-cube sits in the bottom of the urinal, so what keeps the face/wall of the urinal clean?
The face of the urinal does not normally cause any problems. Bacteria find it difficult to exist on the urinal face because it's exposed to direct light and it normally dries soon after use. However the entire urinal is cleaned daily with eco-works biodegradable Microbial Urinal/Washroom Cleaner as part of the Daily Cleaning Procedure. This powerful microbial cleaning solution contains proteins to activate the eco-cube microbes and surfactants and mild detergents for effective cleaning on hard surfaces. Our Microbial Urinal/Washroom Cleaner can be used on the floor, on tiles, all enamael surfaces throughout the washroom even in the WC’s. With daily use of Microbial Urinal/Washroom Cleaner there is no need to take any other cleaning product into the washroom! It is simply diluted 1:30 with cold water. Say good-bye to chemicals in the washroom for ever!
Should we continue with using chemicals and chemical disinfectants?
There is no need to use any chemical based product in the washroom. Using our microbial system, all chemicals can be banned from the washroom for good and a completely 'green washroom' is achieved. The eco-cube system is 100% environmentally friendly and many of our customers understand the importance of moving away from regular chemical usage; after all, we all pay for the high use of chemicals currently used in the environment indirectly. Moving away from chemical usage is good for the environment and good for business. Increased legislation (REACH directive due in September 2007) is forcing business away from chemicals and towards biodegradable, environmentally compliant products like the eco-cube system.
How does the eco-cube system improve hygiene?
Waterless urinals are designed to dry out. Unlike the surfaces of wet urinals, which are constantly damp bacteria and viruses thrive in moisture but simply perish when dried. When you convert to the eco-cube system, your urinal becomes touch-free, reducing the transfer of pathogens to hands. The conventional flushing mechanisms in some wet urinals are a dangerous point of cross-contamination because they require direct hand contact from each user. Simply follow the Daily Cleaning Procedures and the urinal will be kept clean and odour free.
Is the eco-cube system difficult to maintain?
No! Many of our referrals come from cleaning contractors and plumbers who have recommended our system after using it successfully for other clients. Contractors tell us that the system significantly improves overall hygiene conditions in the washroom and makes cleaning faster. Being environmentally friendly products ensures greater peace of mind. However, good housekeeping practices should always be maintained and the washroom urinals should be cleaned daily.
Can eco-cube be used in troughs?
Yes, very successfully. Simply place a cube every metre apart and clean and maintain in the same way as per our Daily Maintenance Care Instructions.
Do our cleaning staff need special cleaning instructions?
Daily maintenance of the eco-cube system is very simple. We produce printed referral guides in picture form to explain the daily cleaning process. We are happy to train your cleaning staff in the correct daily maintenance procedures to ensure the correct daily cleaning regime using microbial products (i.e non chemical).
What do we have to do to get the system set up at our business?
Simply order an eco-cube Starter Kit from us. It comes with everything you need to implement and maintain the eco-cube system for your washroom urinals.
How does the product arrive; what number of cubes are there in a container?
You can order just 12 cubes per container or you can order 52 cubes a container. Each cube will last up to 4 weeks in a urinal so they are very economical.
If we didn’t want to have an eco-cube in our urinal all the time, is there an alternative?
Yes, we have a concentrate solution called Urinal Liquid Cube Concentrate that contains the same microbes as those found in the cube in a liquid format. The concentrate liquid is then simply poured down the waste pipe on a daily basis as part of the cleaning regime allowing the microbes to get to work in much the same way as in an eco-cube.
