Urinals have become surprisingly popular in residential homes over the past few years. Gone are the days when they were just found in public bathrooms.
There are even urinals that can suit men and women alike.
The reasoning behind the popularity is solid, though. Urinals tend to be relatively inexpensive to purchase, easy to maintain, and simple to install.
If you want to DIY the process, you will need some knowledge of plumbing — but not as much as with some other bathroom appliances.
Keep in mind that there are many different kinds of urinals, so the installation process might vary slightly depending on the model. That said, these are the usual basic steps.
Tools and Supplies You Will Need
Besides the urinal itself and its associated accessories, you’ll need the following tools:
- Clean rags
- Electric drill
- Tape measure
- Tape
- PVC cement
- Marker or pencil
- Level tool
- Plywood
- Drywall saw
- Drill bits
Does any of that sound intimidating? If so, you might prefer to work with a plumber.
But if all of those items are in your wheelhouse, you can get started.
6 Steps To Install A Urinal
1. Fit the mounting board.
Your mounting board is an important component. This is what the urinal will rest on.
You want to have a mounting board in place to provide the support that the urinal needs. Oftentimes, this will help take some of the pressure off of the wall hangings.
The amount of weight that rests on the board versus the hangings will depend on the type of urinal.
Get a piece of weather-treated plywood that is big enough to support the urinal. Then secure it to the studs on the wall using nails to anchor it.
2. Add the water line.
Now it’s time to add the waterline. Before you can do this, you need to know exactly where the water line is coming from.
Mark the locations of the waterline at 24 inches from the ground using your marker or pencil. Then use your power drill to create pilot holes along the marks.
You will be putting the hanger screws into these holes.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to cut out the drywall with your drywall saw in the correct area. This will allow you to attach your water supply line and your wastewater line to the urinal.
The water supply line is where the urinal gets water, while the wastewater line will remove contents from the urinal.
Your piping should be laid out so that it attaches to the front of your faucet. Before securing the pipe, though, you should install a shut-off valve for the water supply.
That way, you can turn the water on and off with the flick of a switch when doing maintenance.
3. Attach the wall hangers.
Your urinal should come with wall hangers. These will hold the porcelain and support it so that it remains in the correct position.
The holes you made while installing your water line will be used for positioning the hangers.
The kit should also include nails and screws to help secure the hangers in the correct space. Use your level tool to double-check that every hanger is on the same level.
That way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally installing the urinal lopsided.
The hangers can be adjusted to whatever requirements you have. They should be compliant with your local building regulations.
Make sure that you also have your hangers screwed into the mounting board as well as the wall. This is vital if you want to give your urinal maximum support.
4. Install the drain.
At this point, you haven’t yet attached the urinal to the wall. You want to install your drain and your waste outlet before you do that part.
Put the drain into the urinal, following the manufacturer’s instructions for your model.
There should be a metal ring around the bottom of the urinal. Put a layer of caulk around it.
Then put a strainer in the hole, pushing it down until you get a tight seal.
You can then move under the strainer and put metal and rubber washers on the drain system. A nut should hold the system in place.
This will help to keep the drain from coming loose or leaking.
5. Install the waste outlet.
You should have installed your waste pipe at the same time that you installed the water pipe. Now you can use PVC cement to connect the urinal’s waste outlet to the pipe.
The PVC cement will seal the piping so that waste doesn’t leak out. You should make sure that the pieces connect in the correct place, as improper measurements might cause issues down the line.
6. Hang the urinal up.
Now that you’ve done all of the hardest parts of the installation, it’s time to hang the urinal itself. You’ll lift it up and hold it over the hangers.
Carefully align it until it is connected to the waste outlet position.
Attach the urinal to the waste outlet with the opening located behind it. This will allow waste to be removed with ease.
Let the weight of the urinal rest against the hangers. You should tighten the screws of the hangers until it is held to the wall without wobbling.
But make sure you don’t go further once you have a firm grip. If you keep tightening the screws, they might cause the porcelain material to crack.
How Do You Attach A Urinal To The Wall?
The urinal should come with wall hangers, which will be responsible for holding the weight of the item.
You’ll want to attach the urinal to the hangers and tighten the included screws until it is firm.
The urinal shouldn’t wobble against the wall, but the screws shouldn’t be too tight. If you make them too tight, you’ll crack the porcelain.
How High Should You Mount A Urinal?
Urinals usually have a standard mounting size of 24 inches. You will measure 24 inches from the floor to the rim of the product.
Depending on where you live, though, there might be other regulations. Local building codes will always trump the standard setup.
You should always make sure that you’re familiar with your local building regulations before installing any new appliance or plumbing.
How Do You Install Urinal Plumbing?
Urinal plumbing installation is a process that happens before you hang the urinal itself. In some cases, you may be able to DIY the process.
In others, you might find that you’re more comfortable getting a professional plumber to do the work.
Again, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with your local building regulations. The exact plumbing needs might also vary depending on the type of urinal you have, so you should look at any instructions that come with the model.
How Do You Install The Urinal Flange?
The flange is a part of the drainage system. It will need to be inserted into the drain pipe.
Then you’ll need to hang the urinal in the appropriate space above the flange.
This is another piece that might vary depending on your model. Some models rest their weight on the flange itself, while others have their weight supported by the wall hangers instead.
Conclusion
Installing a urinal can be a tricky process if you don’t have a background in plumbing. But if you’re familiar with a certain level of DIY handiwork, you can probably handle it.
Just make sure you have instructions and that you’re familiar with your local building regulations.
You’ll need to set up your plumbing for the urinal, as well as put together the pieces of the urinal itself. Different models will come with different advantages and challenges.
The steps outlined above should help you with most standard cases of urinal installation, though.