The holidays are an excellent time for families and friends to come together and enjoy the season, but an untimely clogged drain or toilet can quickly bring the festivities to a halt.
Keeping a few essential plumbing tips in mind can help mitigate any holiday plumbing disasters, that way you can enjoy the merrymaking with no worries. The holiday season should be a time to remember, but not because of a disaster!
Follow the tips outlined in Integrity Home Services’ holiday plumbing guide for a stress-free holiday season!
7 Tips to Avoid Holiday Plumbing Problems
Make sure that everyone in your household this holiday season is aware of proper plumbing etiquette, no matter their age.
#1. Throw Leftovers in the Trash, Not Down the Drain
When it’s time to clean up after a delicious holiday meal, resist the urge to just scrape the leftovers off your dishes and into the sink. Many foods should never be put down the disposal or your drain if you do not have a disposal.
One of the best ways to prevent unwanted food scraps from going down the drain is to use a simple, inexpensive sink strainer. Once you are done rinsing your dishes, you can simply dump the collected waste in the compost or garbage.
Now, let’s discuss what items should NEVER go into the garbage disposal.
#2. Know What Goes in the Garbage Disposal
There is an assumption that a garbage disposal is a magical device that can grind up any kind of waste that you put down it. Unfortunately, this is not true! Many materials can cause serious damage to the disposal unit and clog your drains.
Never put any of the following down the drain:
- Celery or tough vegetables
- Rice, pasta, or bread products which expand when exposed to moisture
- Animal bones and fat
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Cooking oil and grease
- Paper, metal, or plastic
Never put hot grease down the drain as it will quickly congeal and
solidify inside your drain, causing a major clog.
Grease should be poured into a can or plastic bag (once cooled) before being tossed into the garbage.
Learn More > Common Causes of Drain Clogs
#3. Stagger Showers
If you have friends or family staying overnight during the holidays, the last thing you want them to experience is an ice-cold shower! Staggering showers by at least 10-15 minutes allows the water heater to replenish warm water but also allows your drains to clear out.
Remember, to prevent clogs in the shower, make sure to use a strainer to catch hair before it makes its way into your pipes.
#4. Toilet Etiquette 101
When hosting guests for the holidays, your toilets are going to work a bit harder than usual. Unfortunately, not everyone is as considerate or aware of proper toilet etiquette as you are!
Make sure that your guests know not to flush the following:
- Sanitary napkins
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cleansing wipes
- Facial pads
- Cotton balls or swabs
#5. Using the Dishwasher
When you are cleaning up after a holiday meal, it can be tempting to run the dishwasher while you wash other dishes. Unfortunately, this can create problems!
The dishwasher and garbage disposal typically share the same drain, so running the disposal can end up pushing back up into the dishwasher’s cleaning cycle. Even worse, if your drains become clogged, running the dishwasher could flood your kitchen. Yikes!
#6. Only Cooks in the Kitchen
In addition to making it simpler for you to prepare holiday dinners and clean up afterward, keeping kitchen traffic to a minimum also helps you avoid expensive plumbing “accidents.”
Taking a few steps to control your kitchen environment can help ensure that this holiday season won’t be the one that is remembered as when the dishwasher or sink overflowed all over your floors.
#7. Schedule Plumbing Maintenance
Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season are here, it is important to schedule plumbing maintenance to ensure that your plumbing system is in good working order. Prevention is key, so it’s best to identify and clear up any potential issue that may put a damper on your holiday spirit.
Learn More > What Happens During a Plumbing Inspection?
Prepare for the Holidays
At Integrity Home Solutions, we know that you’d rather be focusing on making your holiday season a time to remember, than dealing with plumbing issues.
We also know that emergencies do happen, even during the holidays! That’s why we are here 24/7 to handle all your plumbing emergencies so you can get back to enjoying the holidays with your family and friends.
If you encounter a problem that is too much to manage on your own, call our team of seasoned professionals at Integrity Home Solutions. We’re here to make your holiday season merrier!
