Imagine returning home from a beautiful vacation and discovering that the last person to leave the house flushed the toilet and did not wait to see if it refilled and shut off. The toilet then stopped up and overflowed, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to woodwork, counter tops, ceilings and carpets. A few simple toilet-preparation tips will help ensure a worry-free vacation.
Water Treatments
When traveling during winter months, add about a quart of a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water to all toilet bowls before leaving the house. This will prevent the water in the bowl from freezing and causing the porcelain to crack. Propylene glycol is a good selection, as it is considered the most environmentally sound antifreeze.
Whether the weather is warm or cold, add about a cup of cleaning solution such as Pinesol, Dawn Dish Detergent or Mr. Clean to each toilet bowl. This will prevent the odor of stagnant water from permeating your home. These treatments are recommended over time-release cleaning capsules designed for toilet tanks. The capsules, which often contain bleach and other harsh chemicals, are intended for use in a toilet that will be flushed several times per day. Left for long periods, the harsh chemicals will build up inside your toilet tank and possibly damage and corrode key plumbing components.
Extended Vacations
If you are planning an extended vacation (more than four or five days), you may want to evacuate all water from your plumbing system. Although this may seem overzealous, burst pipes can cause nightmarish amounts of damage.
Depending on your house, you may be able simply to shut off the main water valve, or you may also need to turn off the pump and drain the pressure tank. When draining the pressure tank, make sure that the hose carries the water away from the foundation of your house.
After the water supply has been shut off, flush the toilet to drain the residual water from the bowl. If there is any chance of freezing temperatures while you're gone, dip the remaining water out of the bowl and discard it. Force the water remaining in the trap through the pipes using a plunger, and add a quart of a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze to the bowl.
Above all else, use common sense. Just as you would not leave the house with the dishwasher or washing machine running, do not leave the house with the toilet running.
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