Can I flush an unused toilet if there is no water in the bowl?

Question

I have a spare bathroom that I do not use at all. Probably in 3 years, but I went in to dust it ans clean it up and I lifted the seat to find no water in the bowl, but water in the tank. My apt complex shuts the water off in the whole complex for repairs. I am afraid to flush the toilet with all the air in the line, and do I put water in the bowl or do I leave it empty and flush...HELP

Answer 1

I would slowly pour a bucket of water into it and then flush it, make sure the water is turned on at the toilet tap- usually on the wall directly behind the toilet.
If there is water in the top though, I cant see there being any problem.

My work toilet empties out on a regular basis, and I just flush it and it is fine.

Answer 2

The flushing action comes from the water in the tank, not the bowl. If there is air in the line, it will bleed out into the tank along with the water. This will cause some bubbles and maybe the line will "burp," but it does not cause any problems.

If the tank does not fill up after the flush, contact the property owner.

To keep the rubber seal in the tank from drying out, you should flush it once a month, and to keep the bowl (and the toilet S trap) from drying out which may allow sewer gas to enter your living space. Not only is the gas foul smelling, it can contain methane gas.

Answer 3

You can flush it. The water that stays in the bowl is just there so bad smells do not come back up the sewer pipe. There is a curve in the bottom of the toilet called a P-trap that holds the water. You have not used this toilet in so long that the water probably just evaporated. Water, etc., that goes down the sewer pipe is not under pressure like the water that fills the tank. The sewer pipe is just gravity flow, and the pipe always has some air in it.

Answer 4

None of the above ( except maybe the dog drinking suggestion ). The only way that water can dissappear from a toilet bowl is that the bowl is cracked. If there is no water seaping out onto the floor it's probably because a bead of caulk between the bowl base and the flooring is preventing it from doing so. If you can access underneath the floor below the toilet ( basement, crawl space ) you should be able to verify this. The only solution is to replace the toilet.

Answer 5

I'm not sure,...call your landlord.

You can force flush a toilet with a bucket of water, by aiming the pouring at the hole.

I have my Dad flush my toilet once a month in my old bedroom for this same reason. That and the drowning squirrel problem---cabin in the woods.

Answer 6

Flush, but if in doubt, pour a gal of water into the bowl then flush.

Answer 7

If you do not use that bathroom anyway, why don't you just wait until they turn the water back on to flush the toilet.

Answer 8

It is safe to flush it. In this case lack of water in the bowl means nothing.

Answer 9

I would add water with a bucket. If the drainning works, the water pressure should flush the toilet. A home is big job and we call all use a good resourse like Martha Stewart's book new in shrinkwrap:
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Answer 10

Take a pot and fill it with water. Pour the water into the bowl and then flush...that should take care of it.