10/11/2026
Household tip:
Many homeowners occasionally leave for an extended period of time, or as is common here in Sarasota own a home in which they do not reside full-time. In either case, it is important to have someone with access to the residence in order to run water at all fixtures weekly. The p-trap at each drain is designed to hold water, which prevents sewer gases, bugs, etc. from entering the home through the drains. In order to maintain the desired amount of water in the p-trap, we recommend the following on a weekly basis: flushing each toilet once and allowing 1 quart of water to run at each faucet, shower, tub, etc. This is a simple way to avoid plumbing issues!
Note: Remember to always turn off the water to the residence at the main valve and turn off the circuit breaker to your water heater when you are away for an extended time! Turning the water on weekly in order to keep the p-traps filled is an easy task, and in the event of a leak or water heater failure can save you a lot of money!
