Why is there a hole in the canister lid?

If you've ever taken a closer look at your urine canister, you've probably noticed this small hole in the lid .
And maybe you've asked yourself, "Does that belong there?" or "Isn't that a design flaw?"

Don't worry – this is not a manufacturing defect , but rather a brilliant design .

Coincidence or intention?

Of course intentional!

At ecoshit , every screw, every seal, and every hole is deliberately placed . We don't build products based on the motto "the main thing is that they work," but rather carefully consider every detail – and the small hole in the canister lid is no exception.

What is the hole for? – The issue of pressure equalization

The hole serves a single but important purpose: pressure equalization .

When you pour urine into the canister (e.g. through the divider insert), the air inside has to go somewhere .
Since our odor trap is airtight and does not allow any air to escape (which is what we want – because of the smells), it needs a small compensation opening .

The small hole ensures that the urine can drain away easily.

What happens without the hole?

Without this tiny detail, the urine would:

… run more slowly (it would “bubble” in the separator insert)

… in the worst case, backlog

… even spill over if the canister cannot equalize the pressure

This becomes particularly critical when used in a vehicle (e.g. in a camper or vanlife setup):
When you climb a lot of altitude, excess pressure builds up in the canister. While this isn't dangerous, it reliably prevents the urine from draining .

Conclusion: Small hole = big impact.

When cleaning your canister, always make sure this hole isn't clogged —e.g., with limescale, dust, or bedding. This is the only way your urinary system can function smoothly—without unpleasant odors or backflow.