How United Airlines Fixed Their Ongoing Urinal Clog Problem and What Your Airport Can Learn From It
If you manage airport facilities, you already know the truth: clogged urinals in airports are a nonstop issue. It doesn’t matter how often they’re cleaned—fixtures slow down, smells creep in, and eventually an “Out of Order” bag goes on the bowl.
So, what actually causes the backups?
Uric salt buildup. It forms deep inside the drain lines from constant use. Over time it hardens into a crusty, cement-like blockage—what crews call “peeconcrete.” Once it’s there, snaking or surface cleaning won’t fix it for long.
This issue is rampant in airport restrooms. Thousands of people use the same fixtures daily. Add short turnarounds, minimal downtime, and tight maintenance windows, and you’ve got the perfect storm for recurring urinal backups.
United Airlines Had the Same Problem and Found a Fix
This isn’t a theory, it’s exactly what happened at one of United Airlines’ major terminals.
They were dealing with recurring urinal clogs. One row in a heavily trafficked area would drain slowly or go out of order again and again. Janitorial crews were doing their job, but the problem kept returning.
The maintenance team was frustrated. Plumber costs were adding up. Most importantly, it was hurting the passenger experience. That’s when someone from their facilities team reached out to us.
The Test: Try Javelin in Just One Terminal
We didn’t need a full system overhaul. We asked them to test Javelin Urinal Treatment on the problem row.
They poured it directly into the drains no tools, no shutdowns, no extra labor.
Here’s what happened:
- Drain flow returned to normal
- Odor disappeared
- Urinals stayed functional
- Maintenance didn’t hear a peep for weeks
It was clear: uric salt was the issue and Javelin fixed it.
From Fix to Prevention: United’s Long-Term Strategy
After the test, United rolled out Javelin as part of their preventive urinal maintenance protocol. Instead of reacting to backups, they now treat problem lines on a schedule to prevent clogs before they start.
It’s fast, cost-effective, and it works. No more surprise plumbing calls. No more complaints from staff or travelers. Just working restrooms—like it should be.
How to Apply Javelin in Airport Facilities (4-Step Routine)
- Target: slow drains, odor lines, or rows that repeatedly back up in peak areas (gates, lounges, food courts).
- Apply: pour Javelin Urinal Treatment after hours into each affected fixture; allow a 2–4 hour dwell (overnight is ideal).
- Flush & verify: confirm strong flow and odor reduction the next day.
- Set cadence: weekly during peak season; biweekly in shoulder periods. Increase frequency on the worst rows.
If You Manage Airport Facilities, This Is for You
Whether you work for an airline, an airport authority, or a third-party janitorial contractor—if you’re seeing frequent urinal clogs in terminals, the cause is almost always uric salt.
You can spend thousands chasing clogs with band-aid fixes, or you can do what United did: test Javelin and solve it at the source. If you’re having similar issues, reach out. We’ll walk you through exactly how to use it, answer questions, and help you get results.
Buy Javelin Urinal Treatment →