Quick long-term house closure question

[Tustin714]

The other threads on this topic in the forum appear to be closed, so here's a quick question about the small overflow holes in bathroom sinks, since water seemingly could evaporate through these, even with the plug closed, and allow bugs in. So do people plug the hole with tissue or something as simple as that, or another way?

Thanks.

[rjm1cc]

I would say most do not because we never think of it. Go ahead close the whole. No harm will be done.

[retiredguy123]

I would not plug the overflow hole on any fixture or seal or close the drain shut. Traps that dry out are usually not an issue. I would be more concerned about causing a flood. If you are really concerned about the trap drying out, you can fill the traps with a chemical that will not dry out, but personally, I wouldn't do that either.

[LeRoySmith]

A cup or 2 of cheap vegetable oil in each trap will keep them from drying out.

[Tustin714]

I would not plug the overflow hole on any fixture or seal or close the drain shut. Traps that dry out are usually not an issue. I would be more concerned about causing a flood. If you are really concerned about the trap drying out, you can fill the traps with a chemical that will not dry out, but personally, I wouldn't do that either.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but we always turn off the water to the house, so overflow isn't an issue.

[Tustin714]

A cup or 2 of cheap vegetable oil in each trap will keep them from drying out.

Interesting idea; none of the article I've read about long-term closure has yet mentioned that one. Thanks.

[daniel200]

First check to see if your sink overflow is even functional. None of the sink overflows are functional (they do not drain) in my 2005 built house. I had a plumber look at it and it seems none of the drain holes have any possibility to be plumbed or drain. I discovered this when I purchased the home in 2018.

[retiredguy123]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but we always turn off the water to the house, so overflow isn't an issue.
I understand, but accidents happen. The water shutoff valve can leak, or you can forget to remove the overflow plug, etc. I may be AR, but I would never try to disable a drain. One other thing you could do would be to cover the sink top with plastic wrap to prevent evaporation.

[retiredguy123]

First check to see if your sink overflow is even functional. None of the sink overflows are functional (they do not drain) in my 2005 built house. I had a plumber look at it and it seems none of the drain holes have any possibility to be plumbed or drain. I discovered this when I purchased the home in 2018.
I just tested my mine and they function perfectly. They don't need to be plumbed. The overflow is built in to the fixture. Note that in plumbing lingo, I was taught that the "sinks" in the bathrooms are called "vantities" because they have an overflow. But the "sinks" in the kitchen and laundry are called "sinks" because they do not have an overflow. I have noticed that, in some of the older Villages houses, the vanities and bathtubs do not have an overflow. I think this may be a plumbing code violation today, but I am not certain.

[tophcfa]

The other threads on this topic in the forum appear to be closed, so here's a quick question about the small overflow holes in bathroom sinks, since water seemingly could evaporate through these, even with the plug closed, and allow bugs in. So do people plug the hole with tissue or something as simple as that, or another way?

Thanks.

Never thought of that, but we typically never leave our home for more than a couple months at any time. Also, we have snowflake friends and we check each others homes whenever one of us gets to the Villages and always run water in each sink and tub/shower. That being said, I winterize our family lake house each year and put RV antifreeze in all the traps. RV antifreeze is inexpensive and is designed to evaporate very slowly.

[Ritagoyer]

The other threads on this topic in the forum appear to be closed, so here's a quick question about the small overflow holes in bathroom sinks, since water seemingly could evaporate through these, even with the plug closed, and allow bugs in. So do people plug the hole with tissue or something as simple as that, or another way?

Thanks.
I put blue painter's tape over the holes in the bathroom it is easy to see and remove

[La lamy]

I tape those overflow holes with packing tape, as well as the drain holes.

[nordic tug]

I put corks in the holes, some wine bottles corks have a solid grip on top making it easier to remove and reuse.

[TheWarriors]

Wow, never knew so many had problems with bugs when the houses are vacant. Might want to look deeper into the issue, seems like more than a “cover the drain” problem. Plumbing systems are sealed except for the vents on your roof.

[Bonnien]

There is one sink in my home where bugs appear…..ver little black bugs that resemble flies…then i saw small ants….this sink is used. Constantly…..

[daca55]

Been a snowbird for 13 years and I have never plugged any sink drain holes. When I return in the fall I seldom find any bugs. If you have your house treated for bugs routinely you should have no problem. Plugging any drains is taking a chance because if your isolation valve starts to leak you could end up with a major water problem. A bug person once told me that bugs don’t come from drains they just go into them looking for water.

[Federspiel]

Masking tape

[jimmy o]

Never thought of that, but we typically never leave our home for more than a couple months at any time. Also, we have snowflake friends and we check each others homes whenever one of us gets to the Villages and always run water in each sink and tub/shower. That being said, I winterize our family lake house each year and put RV antifreeze in all the traps. RV antifreeze is inexpensive and is designed to evaporate very slowly.
You are poisoning the water supply. Antifreeze should NEVER be put in a drain, it’s highly poisonous.

[retiredguy123]

You are poisoning the water supply. Antifreeze should NEVER be put in a drain, it’s highly poisonous.
So are a lot of things that go down the sanitary sewer drain. What about bleach, drain cleaners, and human waste? That is why it goes to a treatment plant to be treated.

[Joe Folker]

The other threads on this topic in the forum appear to be closed, so here's a quick question about the small overflow holes in bathroom sinks, since water seemingly could evaporate through these, even with the plug closed, and allow bugs in. So do people plug the hole with tissue or something as simple as that, or another way?

Thanks.

I've seen people put a piece of tape or a band-aide over the whole.

[sallyg]

We used to put tape over ours and left roach traps all around the house - esp by doors, under sinks etc. never had a problem.

[stevecmo]

Why not just hire a Home Watch service for $60 a month and not have to worry about it? They will run water down the drains, check for leaks, take your golf cart for a short ride to charge the battery, check your mail, etc., etc.,

[tophcfa]

You are poisoning the water supply. Antifreeze should NEVER be put in a drain, it’s highly poisonous.

Don’t confuse RV antifreeze with antifreeze that goes into an engines cooling system. RV antifreeze is non toxic and is designed to winterize plumbing.

[ckcapaul]

Don’t confuse RV antifreeze with antifreeze that goes into an engines cooling system. RV antifreeze is non toxic and is designed to winterize plumbing.

Rv antifreeze is what we use.

[DAVES]

First check to see if your sink overflow is even functional. None of the sink overflows are functional (they do not drain) in my 2005 built house. I had a plumber look at it and it seems none of the drain holes have any possibility to be plumbed or drain. I discovered this when I purchased the home in 2018.

What it means is it was not done properly. Assuming the sink has a built in stopper. Normal for a bathroom sink. Perhaps old style when people used a pitcher and a bowl. You would fill the sink to wash and shave. If, you forgot and left the water running it would overflow the sink. You could have a kid over or?????

[Tyson]

Every year we go back to Pa. for 5 months, shut off the water and come home to dead water bugs all over the place. This year we covered every drain and toilet to see if we could keep them out. Ill tell ya in may if that worked out.

[DAVES]

Why not just hire a Home Watch service for $60 a month and not have to worry about it? They will run water down the drains, check for leaks, take your golf cart for a short ride to charge the battery, check your mail, etc., etc.,

We bought before moving in. A long time ago. The service was well worth it. It was a new home. Pants were not rooted in. Lawn was just laid down sod. Home was empty so no theft concern. We didn't have a golf cart at the time. Interesting that they would do that as well.

[Phil D]

The other threads on this topic in the forum appear to be closed, so here's a quick question about the small overflow holes in bathroom sinks, since water seemingly could evaporate through these, even with the plug closed, and allow bugs in. So do people plug the hole with tissue or something as simple as that, or another way?

Thanks.. Don’t buy a House,if you do GET ALL THE FLOOD INS.FIRE INS EVERYTHING GOODLUCK YOU DEFINITELY WILL NEED IT.

[Mrs. Heck]

Our “bug guy” told us to cover the sink holes with blue tape, and to fill a ziplocwith water to place on top of the shower floor drain. These keep bugs out. But we still have a neighbor come to run the water every 2 weeks in all the sinks and tub.

[DAVES]

Every year we go back to Pa. for 5 months, shut off the water and come home to dead water bugs all over the place. This year we covered every drain and toilet to see if we could keep them out. Ill tell ya in may if that worked out.

Teasing a little. Water bugs are called cockier roaches in Pa. If they were dead your home is being sprayed. They are actually amazing. They are prehistoric and man has been trying to kill them off for the past million years or so.

[jacRI]

When leaving for an extended period aside from turning water off to the house I close all sink tub drains and use painter's tape for overflow drains. I put Sarawrap over shower floor drain and over toilet bowls which receive a healthy dose of bleach. I'm more concerned with sewer gas backup than bugs. I also have camera from which I can check inside temperature to ensure AC is still working properly.

[dmorhome]

Tape hole

[dmorhome]

Don’t forget shower drains plastic wrap and a can on top of it .

[gammonj]

The overflow in the sink goes directly to the drain (in the sink itself). You can remove the sink stopper, and stuff rag down there. It will cover both the drain and overflow entrance. Here is a very simple explanation on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MILX762FgYI

[vintageogauge]

You are poisoning the water supply. Antifreeze should NEVER be put in a drain, it’s highly poisonous.

RV Antifreeze is not toxic.

[Tustin714]

Every year we go back to Pa. for 5 months, shut off the water and come home to dead water bugs all over the place. This year we covered every drain and toilet to see if we could keep them out. Ill tell ya in may if that worked out.

We bought in March but were only there for 10 days to set up the house, and then returning in mid-May for a couple months (with the water off and all sinks covered except the master shower stall -- didn't think about it). Our first night back we had a Palmetto bug on the wall near the entrance to the bathroom, and I found a cool in-drain shower "plug" that lets water drain out but seals up immediately when water stops running -- no more bugs from that source.

What we did discover was that Palmettos were coming in via the drain in the dishwasher, and had a couple of visitors our first few days back until that discovery (our bug guy -- Massey -- confirmed they can get in that way). After closing it when not in use, no more bugs.

[maryastew@aol.com]

Cover with duct tape

[retiredguy123]

We bought in March but were only there for 10 days to set up the house, and then returning in mid-May for a couple months (with the water off and all sinks covered except the master shower stall -- didn't think about it). Our first night back we had a Palmetto bug on the wall near the entrance to the bathroom, and I found a cool in-drain shower "plug" that lets water drain out but seals up immediately when water stops running -- no more bugs from that source.

What we did discover was that Palmettos were coming in via the drain in the dishwasher, and had a couple of visitors our first few days back until that discovery (our bug guy -- Massey -- confirmed they can get in that way). After closing it when not in use, no more bugs.
I would just point out that, if you see a Palmetto bug near a drain, it doesn't mean that the bug entered the house through the drain. I am not a bug expert, but I thought that Palmettos are flying bugs that live in trees. The only way they could enter the house through a drain trap is if they traveled from the manhole in the street through the sanitary drain pipe and through the drain trap. How did they get into the manhole if the cover is sealed shut? Maybe Massey or another bug expert can explain how that happens.

[Dusty_Star]

. Don’t buy a House,if you do GET ALL THE FLOOD INS.FIRE INS EVERYTHING GOODLUCK YOU DEFINITELY WILL NEED IT.

Excuse me, but was your advice: "Don’t buy a House"?

[BobnBev]

You are poisoning the water supply. Antifreeze should NEVER be put in a drain, it’s highly poisonous.

RV anti freeze is potable, it's not poisonious.:cold: