Florida vacation home toilet drying up when gone.?
We have our florida vacation home, which we use for a few months every winter, the rest of the year it sits empty. So the toilets dry up after a few months, then bugs, rats, and other creatures get into the house through it.
Any ideas on how to get them to not evaporate, or stop the bugs etc from coming in while we are gone over the long period?
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Pour about a cup of mineral oil in the bowl, and a few tablespoons down the sink and other drains. This will float on the top, won’t support any sort of growth, but won’t allow the water to evaporate. Put a bit of laundry detergent down when you visit to emulsify the oil and you are…uh…good to go.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Drain them first, then put steel wool in the drains.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
You should drain all your plumbing before leaving them for extended periods! letting them sit with water in them invites all kinds of nasty things to enter your home!! not just the bugs and critters but algea, mold and smells..cut off the water supply and flush the toilets and open the faucets!!
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Maybe you could get some one to come in and flush the toilet once a month. I have that problem also. Never knew the the creatures could come in.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
You Could leave the cork up a little bit so the water keeps running into the bowl
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Saran wrap the top
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I will assume that you have no one to look in on your home occasionally for you, or you could have them insure a flush each time to re-fill the bowl. Given that, take a very small stainless steel washer or better yet, the pull chain from the flapper inside the tank, and place it under the flap to effect a ‘running toilet’ and try to not be too wasteful. If your toilets are of a newer style not using the flapper arangement, I would need to know just what you have to be of help. Will be glad to assist further if you wish to Email me.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Don’t rent it out..How can you displace families ect for your own convenience that would be cruel and unusual.What’s the big deal about toilet drying up..Other the alot of air and a pain in the behind to you.Everythring does this with out proper use or care.You should know this though .You sound so successful.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
How about the anti-freeze that is made specifically for winterizing trailers? The ones that are not alcohol based will evaporate slower than plain water. Also, I would place a layer of plastic wrap, e.g. Saran Wrap, over the water in the bowl to help reduce evaporation.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I also have a condo in Palm Springs, CA and I had the same problem until I rigged up a device that automatically flushes the toilet every week. This has worked so well, that I am considering patenting the device.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Use clinging Seran wrap over the bowl and stop the evaporation process.
Another option would be to buy a 3" rubber ball drill a hole through it and attach an eye bolt and a rope to it,(so it can be pulled back out) then stuff it into the opening of the toilet to make a good seal.The water will still evaporate, but it would keep bugs and critters out.
A third option would be to rent the property out during the months your not there and solve the toilet problem while making extra income.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
You must pour about 1 cup of bleach in bowl then use saran wrap and wrap the whole top of the bowl,close lid good RATS came up someones bowl due to dry toilets in alot of the buildings even on fifth floor and they move from apartment to apartment
August 26th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
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Florida vacation home toilet drying up when gone.?…
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