For a busy commercial restroom with a sealed cartridge, pick the Sloan WES-4000. For a refillable sealing-liquid trap, pick the Kohler Steward K-4917. For a smaller urinal with the cartridge included, including at home, pick the Swiss Madison Voltaire SM-UT802. Kohler and Swiss Madison warn against copper drain connections.
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This guide compares three waterless urinals using Sloan, Kohler and Swiss Madison spec sheets and drawings.
Waterless urinals compared (maker spec sheets)
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| Urinal | Size | Odor trap | Maker drain height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sloan WES-4000 | 14 × 15-3/8 × 22-5/8 in. | Sealed locking cartridge, about 7,000 uses | 17 in. for a 24 in. lip; 10 in. for a 17 in. ADA lip |
| Kohler Steward K-4917-0 | 14-3/4 in. projection, 11 in. wide, 23-3/4 in. tall | Sealing liquid (sold separately) | 17-3/4 in. standard; 10-1/2 in. max for ADA |
| Swiss Madison Voltaire SM-UT802 | 14 × 12-3/16 × 24-13/16 in. | SM-TPT98 cartridge included | See the installation guide |
A waterless urinal has no flush valve and no water supply. Urine drains through an odor trap that holds a layer of sealing liquid, which floats on top and keeps sewer gas from coming back up. That means no supply pipe to run, but the trap or cartridge needs regular maintenance, and the drain connection has rules of its own.
Sloan WES-4000: cartridge-type commercial urinal
Choose the Sloan WES-4000 for a commercial restroom where you want a sealed cartridge that is swapped on a schedule. Sloan’s spec sheet (sloan.com) for code 1004000 lists a vitreous china waterfree urinal 14 × 15-3/8 × 22-5/8 inches, a patented sealed locking cartridge engineered to last an average of 7,000 uses, biodegradable sealant liquid, a vandal-resistant locking design and touch-free operation. It says the urinal conserves up to 40,000 gallons of water a year, is cUPC certified to ASME A112.19.19, and meets ADA guidelines and ANSI A117.1 when installed accordingly.
Sloan’s rough-in drawing places the 2-inch drain rough-in 17 inches above the floor for a 24-inch lip height, or 10 inches for a 17-inch lip for ADA compliance. The hanger bracket sits 14-1/4 inches above the drain, and the drain nipple should stick out 1/2 to 3/4 inch beyond the finished wall.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Homestead Supply & More showed In Stock with model WES-4000. The listing does not give Sloan’s code; Sloan’s standard WES-4000 is code 1004000, and the SloanTec glaze version is a separate model, WES-4000-STG.
Check Sloan WES-4000 waterless urinal on Amazon →
Kohler Steward K-4917-0: sealing liquid trap
Choose the Kohler Steward K-4917 if you prefer a refillable sealing-liquid trap over a cartridge. Kohler’s spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists vitreous china, a 14-3/4-inch extended rim, a 2-inch rear outlet spud with a 2-inch NPT tap, 0 gallons per flush, and certification to ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1, ASME A112.19.19 and ICC/ANSI A117.1. Kohler recommends its 1048656 sealing liquid, its 1174866 waterless urinal cleaner and K-4929 maintenance balls; they are not listed as included.
The drawing shows the outlet 17-3/4 inches above the floor for a standard installation with a 24-inch lip, or no more than 10-1/2 inches for an ADA installation with the lip at 17 inches or less. The urinal is 23-3/4 inches tall and 11 inches wide, and the finished wall and back of the spud should be flush.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by eFaucets showed limited stock with model 4917-0, white. Amazon calls it “Steward S”; Kohler’s sheet names it Steward K-4917.
Check Kohler Steward K-4917-0 waterless urinal on Amazon →
Swiss Madison Voltaire SM-UT802: compact, cartridge included
Choose the Swiss Madison Voltaire SM-UT802 for a smaller urinal, including in a home or garage bathroom. Swiss Madison’s spec sheet (images.salsify.com) lists a wall-hung glazed ceramic urinal 14 × 12-3/16 × 24-13/16 inches, 41 pounds, 0 gpf, a 2-inch rear outlet, adjustable bowl height, and use in commercial or residential settings. It includes the SM-TPT98 cartridge, a maintenance key, a fixing kit, a wall bracket and PVC connecting tubes.
Its product page (swissmadison.com) says the cartridge can last three or more years with proper monthly maintenance. Swiss Madison’s installation guide (images.salsify.com) recommends two people to handle the fragile urinal and says not to install it on copper drain, waste and vent pipe.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com showed In Stock with model SM-UT802.
Check Swiss Madison Voltaire SM-UT802 waterless urinal on Amazon →
Do not connect a waterless urinal to copper
Two of these makers put the same warning in writing. Kohler’s sheet cautions not to use copper pipe or copper tube connectors when connecting a waterless urinal to the drain system, because copper corrodes and can leak and damage the building. Swiss Madison’s installation guide says not to install on copper drain, waste and vent pipe. If you are replacing a flushing urinal on an old copper drain, plan to change the connection to a material the maker allows.
Maintenance: what keeps it odor-free
A waterless urinal still needs cleaning, just without water. The sealing liquid or cartridge is what blocks odor, so it has to be topped up or replaced on schedule. Sloan rates its cartridge at about 7,000 uses; Swiss Madison says its cartridge can last three or more years with monthly maintenance; Kohler sells sealing liquid by the gallon. Use the cleaning products each maker names.
Sloan links cleaning, cartridge replacement and repair guides from its sheet, and Kohler lists a cleaner and maintenance balls for the Steward. In a high-traffic restroom, budget for cartridges or sealing liquid as an ongoing cost.
Waterless, low-flow or flushing?
A waterless urinal saves the most water, but it trades the flush for a maintenance routine and a supply of cartridges or sealing liquid. A low-flow flushing urinal needs a supply pipe and a flush valve, but no consumables. Pick the one your cleaning staff will actually keep up with.
If you would rather keep a flush, a high-efficiency urinal at 0.125 or 0.5 gpf paired with a flushometer uses very little water. Our Kohler urinal guide and American Standard urinal guide compare low-flow urinals, and our Sloan flush valve guide covers the flushometers that go with them. For toilets in the same restroom, see our commercial toilet guide.
Frequently asked questions
How does a waterless urinal work?
Urine passes through a trap holding a sealing liquid that floats on top and blocks sewer odor, so no flush water is needed.
Do waterless urinals smell?
They are designed not to, but only while the cartridge or sealing liquid is maintained on schedule.
How long does a waterless urinal cartridge last?
Sloan rates its WES-4000 cartridge at about 7,000 uses; Swiss Madison says its cartridge can last three or more years with monthly maintenance.
Can I connect a waterless urinal to copper pipe?
Kohler and Swiss Madison both say not to use copper for the drain connection because it corrodes.
What height should a waterless urinal drain be?
Sloan shows 17 inches for a 24-inch lip; Kohler shows 17-3/4 inches. For ADA, both show about 10 to 10-1/2 inches with a 17-inch lip.
How we chose
This document-based guide makes no hands-on testing claim. We read Sloan’s spec sheet for code 1004000, Kohler’s K-4917 sheet and Swiss Madison’s SM-UT802 spec sheet and installation guide, and inspected their drawings. On October 15, 2026, we checked each linked standard new Amazon offer for model, seller, stock and an add-to-cart button. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Sloan WES-4000 spec sheet (1004000) (sloan.com): size, cartridge 7,000 uses, 40,000 gal claim, ASME A112.19.19, drain 17/10 in., hanger, nipple.
- Kohler K-4917 Steward spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): 2 in. NPT outlet, 17-3/4 / 10-1/2 in., copper caution, accessories.
- Swiss Madison SM-UT802 spec sheet (images.salsify.com): size, 41 lb, included parts, residential or commercial.
- Swiss Madison SM-UT802 product page (swissmadison.com): cartridge 3+ years with monthly maintenance.
- Swiss Madison waterless urinal installation guide (images.salsify.com): two people, no copper DWV.