Avoid Holiday Plumbing Woes

As the holidays grow closer, you may be readying your home to host family or friends for an extended period of time. Between the cleaning and meal preparations, don’t fail to remember to give some attention to your home’s plumbing system to divert possible holiday plumbing catastrophes. Fix existing problems now to keep from dealing with that uncomfortable plumbing emergency with a house full of guests. If you know you have a clogged toilet or drain, garbage disposal issues or a water heater that doesn’t function properly, have those concerns addressed by a professional plumber before your guests arrive. 
 
Regarding the dreaded toilet clog, remember that the only things that should be flushed down your toilet are toilet paper and human waste! Your toilet can end up clogged by the use of too much toilet paper and from troublesome elements that find their way into the toilet and get flushed, such as sanitary napkins, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, cotton balls and paper towels, to name a few. If you’re having overnight guests, chances are somebody won’t follow the “toilet paper only rule” so you may think about a bathroom sign with reminders of what not to flush. 

Is it time to give your drains some seriously overdue attention? You probably use a basic drain cleaning product for when the bathtub is backing up or the kitchen sink won’t drain but this short term solution often won’t rectify the situation. Routine drain cleaning or an emergency drain cleaning when you first recognize the back-up, can prevent your drains from getting clogged and leading to cloudy water and a stench that you would have to discuss with those guests. 

It’s helpful to realize that your garbage disposal can only handle so much, and in many cases, it can’t handle many different types of foods and liquids. Think about what you’re putting down your garbage disposal and don’t use it as a trash can after the big holiday meal is ended. Food items that should not be put in the garbage disposal include celery, potatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, grease, oil, fat, bones, egg shells, pasta, rice, and coffee. These types of items are hard for the disposal blades to grind up and generate blockages in your drains. Always run cold water when you use your garbage disposal and include a small amount of dish soap when cleaning it. 

 If you’ve ignored your water heater maintenance, don’t be surprised if your house guests don’t get to enjoy the hottest of showers during their time at your home. Don’t forget that newer water heaters are more energy efficient, so if yours is above 10-15 years old, it may be time to consider looking into a new one to be sure you don’t have that sudden burst of cold water for multiple days. And if you’ve got a house full of guests, wait at least 15 minutes between showers to allow time for hot water to refresh. 

From drain cleaning to toilet, garbage disposal, and water heater repair, call the Experts at 866-397-3787 if you’ve discovered any last-minute plumbing issues that you would rather not pass on to your holiday guests!