Posted on April 03 2025
When selecting a commercial soap dispenser for your facility, several factors must be considered to ensure you choose the right model. Whether you're dealing with wall or deck mounting, manual or sensor activation, or different soap refill systems, understanding these choices will help optimize the user experience, streamline maintenance, and reduce potential issues. This guide covers everything you need to know about Sloan's sensor soap dispensers, including installation tips, troubleshooting advice, and best practices.
Key Considerations for Selecting a Soap Dispenser
Before you choose a soap dispenser, ask yourself the following:
- Mounting Type: Do you need a wall-mounted or deck-mounted dispenser
- Activation Type: Should it be a manual or sensor dispenser?
- Soap Fill System: Do you prefer a closed system or an open system?
- Power Source: Do you want battery, hardwired, or daisy-chained connections?
- Soap Type: Foam or liquid soap—what’s best for your needs?
This guide will explore all of these options in detail and explain why certain soap dispensers are often the best choice for commercial settings.
Mounting Type: Wall vs. Deck Mount
Wall-Mounted Soap Dispensers:
Wall-mounted dispensers are typically budget-friendly and easy to clean. They are often made of plastic and installed above the sink for convenience. However, these dispensers can sometimes create a less polished aesthetic in a restroom.
Deck-Mounted Soap Dispensers:
For a more attractive and professional look, deck-mounted soap dispensers are usually the preferred soap dispenser. These dispensers are installed directly on the sink and are usually metal, providing a sleek, minimalistic appearance while keeping components below deck to reduce vandalism and wear. This type also minimizes soap and water mess, as users typically remain within the sink area while washing their hands. Deck-mounted dispensers offer the most user-friendly experience and are highly recommended for high-traffic areas.
Activation: Manual vs. Sensor
Soap dispensers come in two main activation styles: manual and sensor-operated.
Manual Soap Dispensers:
These units do not require power and are operated by hand. While they are a cost-effective option, they are not as hygienic as sensor models since they require physical contact, potentially transferring germs.
Sensor Soap Dispensers:
Sensor dispensers offer touch-free operation, making them the ideal choice for reducing the spread of germs in high-traffic environments. These units can be powered by batteries (typically 4 D-size batteries), hardwires (requiring a 120V GFI outlet), or daisy chains (for linking multiple dispensers to a single power source). Using a sensor dispenser minimizes touch points, improving hygiene and reducing maintenance.
We highly recommend choosing sensor soap dispensers to enhance cleanliness and safety in your facility. To explore manual and wall mounted options that we don’t focus on in this article, view our Soap Dispenser Parts and Units page.
Soap Fill System: Closed vs. Open
Closed Systems:
Most of Sloan’s soap dispensers utilize a closed system for both liquid and foam soap options. In these systems, the soap container is replaced rather than refilled. This approach offers several advantages:
- Easy Maintenance: Replacing a sealed container is quicker and more sanitary than refilling.
- Hygiene: Since the refill containers are sealed, there’s no risk of bacterial contamination, which is common in open refillable systems. Studies by the CDC and WHO have shown that 1 out of 4 bulk soap dispensers contains unsafe levels of bacteria, posing a health risk to users.
Open Systems:
In contrast, open systems require manual refilling, which can lead to soap contamination and increased maintenance. Open systems are typically more prone to issues like soap spills, clogs, and bacteria buildup.
Sloan’s closed-system dispensers provide a safer and more efficient solution for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in public restrooms.
Pairing Your Sensor Soap Dispenser with Sloan Faucets
Sloan offers a range of faucets that pair seamlessly with their sensor soap dispensers. Here’s a breakdown of the available faucet series and compatible soap dispensers:
1. SF Faucet Series (Cost-Effective and Easy Installation)
- Faucet Power Options: Battery or battery with hardwired backup
- Compatible Soap Dispenser Model: ESD-2100
- Example Faucet Model: SF-2100 and SF-2150
2. Optima Faucet Series (Durable and Flexible)
- Faucet Power Options: Battery, solar, hardwired, or turbine
- Compatible Soap Dispenser Models: Multiple options to match various Optima faucets (Example: ESD-800)
- Example Faucet Model: EBF-85 and ETF-80
- Additional Features: Remote monitoring via the Sloan Connect app, special finishes available
3. BASYS Faucet Series (Innovative and Customizable)
- Faucet Power Options: Battery, solar, hardwired, or turbine
- Features: Interchangeable crowns, customizable engravings, special finishes, and all serviceable components above deck
- Compatible Soap Dispenser Mode
- ls: ESD-400 (Hardwired) and ESD-500 (Battery-operated)
View all online Sloan Sensor Soap Dispensers or Sloan Sensor Faucets. If you don’t see a model you are looking for, call to order.
Sloan Soap for Sensor Dispensers
All Sloan sensor soap dispensers use infrared (IR) sensors for hands-free operation. They ship with 2 bottles of soap, each containing 1500ml, except for the ESD-400 model, which does not come with soap.
Foam Soap vs. Liquid Soap:
Research by Sloan reveals that users tend to prefer foam soap because it:
- Uses less soap (air is mixed with the soap to reduce consumption)
- Requires less water for rinsing
- Reduces clogging, drips, and stains
- Rinses cleaner, minimizing drain maintenance
Sloan partners with GOJO to provide soap products for their dispensers, offering high-quality, durable bottles designed for commercial use. Available in both liquid and foam options, the soap is unscented and clear, ensuring a hygienic experience.
Soap Bottle Usage:
The amount of soap needed depends on restroom traffic. For instance:
- An office building might use 6L of soap annually (roughly 4 small bottles or 2.6 large bottles).
- High-traffic locations like train stations may use up to 35L of soap annually (about 23 small bottles or 15 large bottles).
- 24/7 facilities like airports may require up to 100L per year (about 67 small bottles or 43.5 large bottles).
Call to order soap refills for your Sloan soaps dispensers.
Sink and Power Compatibility
When installing a Sloan sensor soap dispenser, ensure your sink is compatible with the dispenser’s requirements. The sink should be able to accommodate the motor and refill bottle, with a thickness of 2 inches or less. Additionally, the sink basin must be large enough to prevent "double actuation," where both the soap and faucet sensors are triggered simultaneously.
The recommended distance between faucet and soap dispenser sensors is 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) on trough-style sinks. This distance may vary depending on the dispenser’s location and sink configuration.
Sloan soap dispensers are compatible with both 120V and 240V power supplies, and come with a "Type A" plug suitable for North America and international markets.
Troubleshooting Your Sloan Sensor Soap Dispenser
Most issues with Sloan soap dispensers are easy to resolve. Here’s a simple troubleshooting guide:
1. No Soap Dispensed:
- Check the power: Test the sensor by placing your hand in front of it. If you hear the motor running, there’s power.
- If there’s power but no soap, check the soap level and replace the refill if needed.
2. No Power:
- Verify that the dispenser is plugged in and that the outlet is providing power.
- If the dispenser uses batteries, ensure they’re fresh and properly installed.
3. Soap Issues:
- Avoid using non-Sloan soap in the dispensers as it may void the warranty, and damage the motor.
Featured Unit: Sloan Top Fill Hands-Free Foam Soap Dispenser
For added convenience, Sloan offers the ESD-360-CP, a top-fill foam soap dispenser that eliminates the need to refill from under the sink. This model uses PURELL® REDIFOAM™ soap, and offers features like:
- No-waste, top-fill design that ensures the entire bottle is used.
- Drip-free operation for a clean environment.
- Battery life of up to 45,000 activations.
- 2000ml capacity.
This unit pairs perfectly with Sloan EAF-300/350 faucets, making it an excellent choice for busy facilities.
View the ESD-360-CP Soap Dispenser online.
Conclusion:
Investing in Sloan’s sensor soap dispensers is a smart decision for any commercial facility. With enhanced hygiene, user-friendly features, and easy maintenance, these dispensers offer an effective solution to maintaining a clean and healthy restroom environment. Browse Sloan’s full line of soap dispensers and find the perfect match for your facility’s needs.
To learn more about each soap dispenser and to place your order, view the Sensor Soap Dispensers page on our website.