Confused about summerizing toilets, etc. while away (Phoenix, Mesa: water heater, live)

[Chrisk-K]

We'll be out of town in May and June. I've read that I can use mineral oil or RV antifreeze to prevent plumbing traps from drying up but am not sure exactly what to do. Am I supposed to simply pour some mineral oil into toilet bowls and bathroom and kitchen drains before leaving?

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

We'll be out of town in May and June. I've read that I can use mineral oil or RV antifreeze to prevent plumbing traps from drying up but am not sure exactly what to do. Am I supposed to simply pour some mineral oil into toilet bowls and bathroom and kitchen drains before leaving?

I don't know about those 2 options (but I personally wouldn't do them).
I just fill 5 gallon buckets 3/4 full and leave them in the bathrooms and in the kitchen.

[hikernut]

An aunt and uncle of mine used to snowbird in Mesa. For the toilets they would just fill the bowl with water and then seal it with a few layers of plastic wrap.

I don’t remember what they did for the other drains.

[gemstone1]

Originally Posted by hikernut

An aunt and uncle of mine used to snowbird in Mesa. For the toilets they would just fill the bowl with water and then seal it with a few layers of plastic wrap.

I don’t remember what they did for the other drains.

Easier still is fill a 1 gallon ziploc bag with water, place it in the bowl...it will provide a seal to prevent/minimize evaporation....works with sink drains too.

[Bates419]

Had a place in Phoenix for 10 years. When I went back to Cabada each spring I turned the water off and set the AC to 90 and nothing else. Never had an issue???

[Ponderosa]

I shut off my water to inside while leaving irrigation open, turn on a couple ring cameras, set the AC to 95 and leave. No buckets, no oil in the toilet, no problems when I come back. (yes we have leather and candles and wood furniture and clothes and all the other things that supposedly turn to dust without AC, oil, added moisture - they don't).

NOTE: Forgot to turn off the water heater this past summer but no damage done.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by gemstone1

Easier still is fill a 1 gallon ziploc bag with water, place it in the bowl...it will provide a seal to prevent/minimize evaporation....works with sink drains too.

That's a clever idea. It will keep the roaches out. I have read that roaches coming up the sewer can be a problem in some areas.

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

We'll be out of town in May and June. I've read that I can use mineral oil or RV antifreeze to prevent plumbing traps from drying up but am not sure exactly what to do. Am I supposed to simply pour some mineral oil into toilet bowls and bathroom and kitchen drains before leaving?

You don't have a friend that can come over once in a while to flush and run the water? What about flyers and other things that people may drop off or stick in your door?

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I shut off my water to inside while leaving irrigation open, turn on a couple ring cameras, set the AC to 95 and leave. No buckets, no oil in the toilet, no problems when I come back. (yes we have leather and candles and wood furniture and clothes and all the other things that supposedly turn to dust without AC, oil, added moisture - they don't).

NOTE: Forgot to turn off the water heater this past summer but no damage done.

If you have your air on as you explained, then you don't need "buckets of water" or concern about woods etc. I use to turn my air off completely. And fabrics (elastic comes to mind) were factually damaged even with buckets of water. And SOME candles did melt (as in 2 or 3 out of 30 did melt).

In my current home, I turn off my casita air conditioning but run the other two units (I have around 3000 total square feet). So specifically in the 500-square-foot casita, I put buckets of water in there. And, I also pull out any elastics and candles as well.

In my Surprise home, I had a large 2-story, 2006 build with crappy windows. Room ceiling heights ranged from 10-20 foot ceilings. In my new place, it's a 2018 build, single-story, great windows, and it's well insulated. My highest bill last summer was $200 last year (set to 87 degrees). Of course, we didn't live there over the summer so that is why it was so low). It would have been $400+ per month in the Surprise 2 story. Via SLP website, I could see very little savings going from 87 degrees to 90+. And I ran the real risk of damaging my AC (we covered that last time) if the air is set to high. YMMV. But I might save $150 over the summer going to 95 degrees while stressing my 4-year-old Carrier units. Call any tech or your manufacturer (I called Carrier tech support and two service techs). Personally, I'm not going to roll the dice for $150 savings with $30K worth of AC units.

[Voebe]

Saran wrap across the toilet, then turn off the valve.