Mineral oil in septic

[bluedog225]

Now that summer is here, I will not be going out to the place much.

I’ve got a fairly modern toilet out there that doesn’t hold much water in the splashdown zone. The water is turned off when I’m not there to avoid the possibility of an unnoticed leak. It’s on a 30 acres and it would run full tilt until I received a big water bill.

I’d like to keep the toilet bowl from drying out completely and allowing the septic gas into the structure. I was thinking a quarter inch of mineral oil would do the trick. It would also keep the mosquitoes from growing in the water pool. What do you guys think?

I realize it’s almost nothing compared to the volume of the septic tank. And if I were feeling ambitious, I could probably scoop it most of it out before I brought the toilet back into commission.

Is this the right way to go or is there a better move here?

Thanks

 

[JohnKal]

We put plastic wrap over the bowl (tight) along with a little bleach our Florida home. 6 months later, no water has evaporated. Bowl is clean too!

 

[larry4406]

We put plastic wrap over the bowl (tight) along with a little bleach our Florida home. 6 months later, no water has evaporated. Bowl is clean too!

My sister used to do this as a trick for her college roommates. Toilet was active though…..

 

[nmk_61802]

Why Mineral Oil instead of RV antifreeze?

 

[DGersic]

RV antifreeze is safer, but evaporates over the winter. I’ll have to try the plastic wrap, that sounds like a good idea.

 

[PCustoms]

RV antifreeze is safer, but evaporates over the winter. I’ll have to try the plastic wrap, that sounds like a good idea.

How is RV antifreeze "safer" then mineral oil?

 

[nadogail]

Why not use a biodegradable vegetable oil?

 

[bluedog225]

Why not use a biodegradable vegetable oil?

Inert. Doesn’t go rancid. Stable. No odor.

 

[zendriver]

Could always just plunge/sponge the water out of the bowl and stuff a big rag in there.

Just remember to remove it before using again.

 

[DGersic]

How is RV antifreeze "safer" than mineral oil?

Thinking that mineral oil probably isn’t good for the septic tank.

 

[PCustoms]

Thinking that mineral oil probably isn’t good for the septic tank.

Neither is RV antifreeze

 

[captaindiode]

What about the Oatey Liquidlock gel that you put in toilet to pull them? It gels the water and then dissolves when you re-wet it. It says safe for septic, but I don't know how long the gel is stable. I have used it to pull a toilet for repair and it works well for that.

 

[tarmy]

We put clear Saran wrap over the bowls…hold the water for months…keeps the gases out of the water evaporates.

 

[pfbz]

Just how long do you plan on being away? I don't see any modern toilet evap'ing out it's entire trap for many, many months, likely over a year. And whether or not it would go dry would have zero to do with whether the water main is on or off.

I'd also think that it would be other drains that would go dry first. Do you plan on putting mineral oil in everything? Sinks, tubs, showers, floor drains, etc?

 

[bluedog225]

It may be hotter here than you imagine. I could be gone a month at a time between visits.

There’s only the toilet at this point. When I get sinks etc, they are easier to put a stopper in.

Thanks all.

 

[finn]

My mom used the Saran Wrap trick for years on the toilet in her South Florida. Condominium. She was gone for the six hot months.

Sinks, etc all have some sort of a drain plug or stopper, so no issue there.

We have a house in Tucson that we use seasonally. A relative stops by every couple of months to add water to the traps, and sometimes one of the kids uses the place as a getaway.

No issues. A month or two wouldn’t raise my eyebrows.

 

[rsanter]

hell if you were local to me I would give you 5 gal or food grade mineral oil

 

[larry4406]

Lot of the truck stops use “waterless urinals”. These have mineral oil in them.

The oil floats and lets the piss pass on thru.

Many of these truck stops are remote. I can’t believe they are on municipal sewer.

Perhaps search this tangent.

 

[coldh2o]

Neither is RV antifreeze

Lots of RV antifreeze is septic safe, just buy the right one. Or use plumbing antifreeze to be absolutely sure.

We use it in our cottage to winterize, don't notice any evaporation over six months. Much colder temps though.

 

[bluedog225]

Thanks everybody. I went up there today and ended up putting some mineral oil on the water and wrapping in saran wrap. That’ll keep it from growing mosquitoes and hopefully keep it from evaporating.

When I open the place back up in September, I can drop a shop towel in there and soak up most of the mineral oil.

 

[PCustoms]

Thanks everybody. I went up there today and ended up putting some mineral oil on the water and wrapping in saran wrap. That’ll keep it from growing mosquitoes and hopefully keep it from evaporating.

When I open the place back up in September, I can drop a shop towel in there and soak up most of the mineral oil.

Just flush it.

It's food safe, you can drink it! A cup down the drain once a year isn't going to do anything

 

[scooby074]

RV plumbing antifreeze is used here

 

[coldh2o]

Just flush it.

It's food safe, you can drink it! A cup down the drain once a year isn't going to do anything

You could drink a cup of bacon grease too (don't threaten me with a good time), but I wouldn't dump it down my drain.

 

[WildBill]

We use mineral oil in the seldom used floor drains in commercial bathrooms to stop evaporation and block gasses. Sometimes enough to fill the trap on ones that are never used.

 

[PCustoms]

You could drink a cup of bacon grease too (don't threaten me with a good time), but I wouldn't dump it down my drain.

Bacon grease congeals

Mineral oil doesn't

 

[LOW1]

I think you may be overthinking this. Just shut the lid to the toilet and then drape a towel over it. It’s not going to evaporate to a point where it dries out the trap.

The towel may not even be necessary.

 

[mm08822]

Anyone ever tried molten wax?

Pull the resulting hockey puck out before next use. Could even add a string as you are pouring the wax. Free end of the string is used to pluck the puck!

 

[mm08822]

I think you may be overthinking this. Just shut the lid to the toilet and then drape a towel over it. It’s not going to evaporate to a point where it dries out the trap.

The towel may not even be necessary.

I have a tub that is not used. The P-trap evaps about every 3 mos. When I hear it, I run the tub water to rinse it out and refill the trap.