If you're leaving your house for an extended period, it’s important to make sure your toilet is clean, dry, and securely sealed. The preparation process varies slightly depending on whether you have a macerating toilet or a traditional gravity toilet.
I. Macerating Toilet
1. Clean the Toilet
Use your regular toilet cleaner, flush, and repeat a few times. This will help wash away any residue or debris inside the toilet and pipes, preventing bacteria growth and odor.
2. Empty the Toilet Tank
Turn off the angle stop valve, flush the toilet to empty the tank, and keep it dry.
* Tip: Use a sponge, towel, or a pump to soak up any remaining water at the bottom of the tank.
3. Disconnect the Power to the Macerator Pump
4. Shut off the valve on the drain pipe.
- NOTE: The presence of a valve on the sewage discharge pipe may depend on your plumber’s installation preferences. If installed, the valve mainly serves as a precaution to prevent backflow when pipes are disconnected for maintenance. If your existing system does not have this valve, the macerator pump’s built-in check valve will effectively prevent sewage backflow. Simply put, in case you do have a valve, closing it can provide an extra safeguard, but if not, you can simply skip this step.
5. Close the Toilet Lid
Keep the toilet sealed to prevent dust or debris from entering.
📌FAQs
Q1: I assume there will be some water left inside the macerator that cannot be removed?
Answer: Yes. When the water level inside the macerator drops below the float switch, a small amount of water will remain. However, as long as the cleaning process is done properly, the remaining water will be relatively clean and should not cause any additional odors.
Q2: Should I dry out the toilet bowl in addition to the toilet tank?
Answer: We recommend doing so. After completing the cleaning process, before flushing the toilet to empty the tank, make sure to shut off the household water supply valve on the wall. This prevents new water from entering while draining the tank. Once the toilet is flushed, there should only be a small amount of water left in the bowl. We suggest wearing rubber gloves and using an old towel or sponge, or a plunger to remove as much as possible.
II. Traditional Gravity Toilet
1. Clean the Toilet
Use your regular toilet cleaner, flush, and repeat a few times. This will help wash away any residue or debris inside the toilet and pipes, preventing bacteria growth and odor.
2. Empty the Toilet Tank
Turn off the angle stop valve, flush the toilet to empty the tank, and keep it dry.
Tip: Use a sponge, towel, or a pump to soak up any remaining water at the bottom of the tank.
3. Close the Toilet Lid
Keep the toilet sealed to prevent dust or debris from entering.
III. Summary
To prepare your toilet for long-term non-use, the key is to keep it clean, dry, and properly sealed. These actions will help reduce the chances of unpleasant odors, leaks, or blockages, while also extending the toilet’s lifespan!
If you have any other questions, feel free to comment or contact us!