[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]

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!!!

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[Tom Hannon]

Originally Posted by 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!!!

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]

Originally Posted by Tom Hannon

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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).

[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!