Fact or fiction

[raynitsche]

When leaving your home for the summer ( 4-5 months) is it better to cover
your toilet with plastic wrap. I was told that it prevents snakes and such
from coming out as the water evaporates. My wife believes and I
think it's bull.

[champion6]

Covering the toilet with plastic wrap is fact and a good idea. The reason given is likely fiction and/or urban legend, but it's a remote possibility.

[NIPAS K-9]

:coolsmiley:WOW, I never thought of that. I would rather do it than be sorry! Im with you on that one.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

If nothing else, it would prevent the sewer system gasses from filtering into your house after the water in the bowl and trap evaporate. Phew!!! :22yikes:

Or you could have someone check in on your house occasionally and run some water into all the traps - sinks, toilets, showers/tubs, etc.

Bill :)

[bkcunningham1]

People do it to prevent the water from evaporating. If the water evaporates from your traps, the sewer gas will get in your house. The best trick to prevent this is to cover the water in the toilet bowl with a little vegetable oil. You should also pour a little in your sinks as well.

[justanormalgirl]

People do it to prevent the water from evaporating. If the water evaporates from your traps, the sewer gas will get in your house. The best trick to prevent this is to cover the water in the toilet bowl with a little vegetable oil. You should also pour a little in your sinks as well.

Just to be on the safe side (and to satisfy my paranoia...used for self preservation purposes only of course :D ) how about a little vegetable oil AND plastic over the seat??

[Tom Hannon]

If nothing else, it would prevent the sewer system gasses from filtering into your house after the water in the bowl and trap evaporate. Phew!!! :22yikes:

Or you could have someone check in on your house occasionally and run some water into all the traps - sinks, toilets, showers/tubs, etc.

Bill :)


It wouldn't be a bad idea to run the rinse cycle on the dishwasher also once a month. I didn't one year and the seals of the dishwasher dried up and began leaking.

[graciegirl]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to run the rinse cycle on the dishwasher also once a month. I didn't one year and the seals of the dishwasher dried up and began leaking.


We were seasonal residents for four years and didn't put plastic wrap on the toilets or have anyone run the dishwashers. The dishwashers sitting in the stores don't get run.

No snakes, no sewer gas. We shut off the water to the house when we left, put the air conditioner on 83.

It might could have happened, but it didn't. That is what we were told to do.

[Madelaine Amee]

When leaving your home for the summer ( 4-5 months) is it better to cover
your toilet with plastic wrap. I was told that it prevents snakes and such
from coming out as the water evaporates. My wife believes and I
think it's bull.

We did the seasonal routine for two years. We used to put a capful of bleach in each toilet bowl, cover with plastic wrap. We still use this method when we are traveling for any time other than a few days.

We were told it prevents mildew growing in the bowl.

[bkcunningham1]

We were seasonal residents for four years and didn't put plastic wrap on the toilets or have anyone run the dishwashers. The dishwashers sitting in the stores don't get run.

No snakes, no sewer gas. We shut off the water to the house when we left, put the air conditioner on 83.

It might could have happened, but it didn't. That is what we were told to do.

When you were seasonal residents, graciegirl, how long were you typically gone? Also, did you have someone coming in and checking on your house?

My neighbors are snowbirds and gave us the key to check on their house. The first time we went in their house, the water was nearly gone from one toilet because they had left the toilet lid up and it had evaporated quickly.

[billethkid]

.....shut the water off....leave all undersink cabinet doors open (heat in winter).....make sure the toilet lids are down......unoccupied usually from September 1 to May1 each year....fall visit for the leaves and relax (away from TV)....Feb visit to do maintenance (and relax away from TV).....No critters....no water evap......thermostat set for 60 heat and 80 cooling...........

20 years (and counting) with a second home in the TN mountains

btk

[senior citizen]

...........

[ajbrown]

I would say do not do it. Although putting saran wrap over the toilet bowl and under the seat may seem funny, I can promise you the victim will not see the humor and you will be stuck cleaning it up and it is kinda gross.

Same goes for taping the lever on the sink sprayer so it sprays whoever turns the water on….

Shrieks, followed by laughter, followed by apologies, followed by 'yes dear' for the next several hours....

Not worth it (or so I have been told).

:D:D

[bonrich]

Don't forget to cover or put a plug in the drains to your sinks and showers after running water into the traps.

[quirky3]

Seems like the most important point would be to remember to remove the saran wrap first thing when you return!:22yikes:

[Villages PL]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to run the rinse cycle on the dishwasher also once a month. I didn't one year and the seals of the dishwasher dried up and began leaking.

I have live in The Villages (2 locations) for a total of about 13 years and have never used my dishwashers. It has been about 7 years in my present location. I guess that means it will leak if used? If I ever sell my house, I suppose I'll either have to fix it or at least remember to tell the new owner.

[Down Sized]

I have live in The Villages (2 locations) for a total of about 13 years and have never used my dishwashers. It has been about 7 years in my present location. I guess that means it will leak if used? If I ever sell my house, I suppose I'll either have to fix it or at least remember to tell the new owner.

I must not be the only one that uses paper plates!!!:BigApplause:

[Tom Hannon]

We were seasonal residents for four years and didn't put plastic wrap on the toilets or have anyone run the dishwashers. The dishwashers sitting in the stores don't get run.

No snakes, no sewer gas. We shut off the water to the house when we left, put the air conditioner on 83.

It might could have happened, but it didn't. That is what we were told to do.

Hi Gracie. It did happen to my NY dishwasher. When we returned to NY the seals were shot. Perhaps because of the difference in temperatures had something to do with the faulty seal as was the dishwasher was ten years old. [But whatever the reason, I try to run the dishwasher Both in NY and FL) when away for a long period of time. Whether it will happen to anyone in TV is uncertain but it doesn't hurt to be safe.

[Tom Hannon]

I have live in The Villages (2 locations) for a total of about 13 years and have never used my dishwashers. It has been about 7 years in my present location. I guess that means it will leak if used? If I ever sell my house, I suppose I'll either have to fix it or at least remember to tell the new owner.

I'm not saying I'm an expert. All I'm saying is "It happened to me." I am not a person who just throws stuff out there to cause conflict.

[duffysmom]

Before we moved to TV people told us we were crazy to live in Central Florida, they said we would be overrun by critters and alligators as well as mosquitoes. Never happened.

We lived on a barrier island for years in a condo and never saran wrapped our toilet and never had a problem. We did have lots of mosquitoes and no see ums which required lathering up with bug spray. Ugh!! Have never had to do that here in TV.

Go figure!

[buggyone]

I have never heard of anyone putting Saran Wrap over the toilet bowls when the house is unoccupied for a long period of time but I can see where the evaporation of toilet bowl water might allow for sewer gas to leak into the house. Not a bad idea for that.

However, for the purpose of keeping out snakes or rats - RIDICULOUS.

The snakes or rats would have the same probability of getting into the house through the toilet if the house was occupied or not. Would you put Saran Wrap on your toilets when you are home everyday? Of course not.

I have never heard of anyone actually having a snake or rat come up through the toilet. I have heard of people saying they know of someone but it has always been second or third hand accounts.

[raynitsche]

Thank you!

[jblum315]

My daughter had a rat come in through their toilet in Brooklyn NY. She was horrified, she wanted to move out

[buggyone]

My daughter had a rat come in through their toilet in Brooklyn NY. She was horrified, she wanted to move out

Hey, I can understand anyone wanting to move out of Brooklyn - or any place in New York.

However, this is just one more of those "I know someone who knew someone who had the problem" stories and did not actually happen to themself.