08/20/2026
Do you have more than one bathroom in your house that isn’t used often? Or maybe you have a sink in the basement, or a wet bar that’s falling out of use lately.
You might think it’s fine to ignore that space if nobody is using it, but neglecting the water fixtures and drains in your home can have undesirable consequences that extend beyond just a little extra dust.
Sink and shower drains that go for extended periods without water running through them can run the risk of letting pests or sewer gas into the house.
The drains in your home, including those in your bathroom sink and toilet, have p-traps, which are u-shaped portions of pipe designed to always hold a bit of water. This water acts as a seal. If a drain is never used, the water in this trap can evaporate, potentially allowing drain flies or noxious fumes to enter your home.
Here are a few things you can do to keep things running smoothly !
-Run water in the sink for about 1 to 3 minutes.
-Run water in the shower or tub for 1 to 3 minutes. If you have a shower head with a flexible hose, place the shower head near the drain while it’s running.
-Flush the toilet if it’s rarely used.
Put these tasks on your schedule to repeat weekly or monthly, depending on how often the bathroom is used! 🚽
