9 Plumbing Tips to Avoid a Holiday Dinner Disaster
The holidays are a special time for gathering with family and friends. While you’re busy planning menus and decorating, your home’s plumbing system gets overworked. More guests mean more cooking, more dishes, more showers, and more toilet flushes, placing significant strain on your pipes and fixtures.
A sudden plumbing emergency can bring your celebration to a screeching halt. Fortunately, you can prevent most plumbing disasters with a little preparation by following our tips.
1. Be Kind to Your Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal is one of the most common sources of plumbing emergencies. Pushing it beyond its limits with the wrong types of food waste is a recipe for a jam or a severe clog.
- Don’t put fats, oils, or grease down the drain
- Avoid stringy or starchy foods like potato peels
- Never dispose of bones or coffee grounds
Always run a strong flow of cold water before, during, and for about 30 seconds after using the disposal. This helps flush waste completely through the pipes. If you notice your unit struggling, it’s wise to schedule professional garbage disposal services to prevent a complete failure.
2. Put Your Kitchen Sink on a Low-Fat Diet
Fats, oils, and grease are the number one enemy of holiday drains. That leftover turkey grease, bacon fat, and butter may be liquid when hot, but they cool and solidify as they travel through your plumbing. This creates a thick, sticky residue that traps other food particles, gradually building up until the pipe is completely blocked.
A grease-related clog is one of the most difficult to clear and often requires professional equipment.
- Scrape plates, pots, and pans into the trash
- Pour cooled grease into a sealable container for disposal
- Wipe down greasy pans with a paper towel
If your drains are already running slow, it’s a sign of a developing blockage. Scheduling a preventative drain cleaning can clear out existing buildup and help water flow freely throughout the holidays.
3. Use Drain Strainers in Sinks and Showers
A drain strainer is a simple and incredibly effective tool for preventing clogs. This inexpensive mesh or silicone screen sits over your drain and catches debris before it can enter your pipes. In the kitchen, a strainer will catch small food particles that shouldn’t go down the drain. It’s a great backup for when you’re rinsing dishes quickly.
With houseguests, your showers and bathtubs will be working overtime. A hair-catching drain strainer in each bathroom will prevent soap scum and hair from building up and causing slow drains or complete blockages. It’s much easier to clean a strainer than it is to snake a drain.
4. Prepare Your Bathrooms for Heavy Traffic
Your guest bathroom is another potential hotspot for holiday plumbing problems. Many well-meaning guests may flush items that your plumbing system simply can’t handle. So-called “flushable” wipes are a leading cause of sewer line backups. They don’t break down like toilet paper and can easily snag on imperfections in your pipes, creating a major obstruction.
Make sure that your guests know to dispose of anything other than toilet paper in the bathroom’s trash bin. This includes wipes, cotton balls, paper towels, and all sanitary products. This simple step can save you from a very unpleasant sewage backup emergency.
5. Address Minor Leaks Now
A tiny drip from a faucet or a small puddle under a sink might seem like a minor annoyance you can deal with after the holidays. However, the increased use during a party can turn a small leak into a significant problem. Before your guests arrive, take a few minutes to do a quick inspection.
Look inside the cabinets under all your kitchen and bathroom sinks. Check the bases of your toilets for any signs of water. Look at the water supply lines for faucets and toilets for any signs of corrosion or moisture.
Catching and fixing these small issues beforehand prevents them from escalating. If you find a leak, no matter how small, it’s best to call for professional plumbing repair.
6. Know Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve Location
In the unlikely event of a major plumbing failure, like a burst pipe, you need to be able to shut off the water to your entire house immediately. A few minutes can be the difference between a small puddle and major water damage.
Take the time now to locate your main water shut-off valve. It’s often found in a basement, crawl space, garage, or outside near your water meter. Once you find it, make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it.
Test the valve to make sure it isn’t stuck or corroded. If it’s difficult to turn, a plumber can help verify it’s in good working order.
7. Inspect Your Water Heater
Your water heater will be working hard to keep up with the demand from guests taking showers and the mountain of dishes that need washing. A water heater that is already struggling is more likely to fail when pushed to its limit. You don’t want to run out of hot water in the middle of hosting a party.
- Leaks or puddles around the tank base
- Unusual noises like popping or rumbling
- Discolored or rusty-looking hot water
- Water that isn’t getting hot enough
8. Have a Plunger and Auger Ready
Even with the best preparation, minor clogs can still happen. Having the right tools to handle a simple clog yourself can save the day. A flange plunger (with the extended flap) is designed specifically for toilets and creates a much better seal than a standard cup plunger, which works best for sink and shower drains.
For small clogs just beyond the reach of a plunger, a small hand-crank drain auger can be useful. Use it gently to avoid damaging your pipes. For stubborn or recurring blockages, professional help is the safest bet.
9. Schedule a Professional Plumbing Inspection
The best way to enjoy a peaceful, plumbing-problem-free holiday is to schedule a professional inspection before your guests arrive. A trained technician can identify potential issues that you might miss, like hidden leaks, early-stage pipe corrosion, or significant buildup in your main drain line. At General Air Conditioning & Plumbing, our expert plumbers can perform a comprehensive check of your entire plumbing system.
Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday Season
Since opening our doors in 1984, General Air Conditioning & Plumbing has helped our neighbors in the Coachella Valley keep their homes safe and comfortable. With our A+ BBB rating and decades of experience, you can trust us to prepare your plumbing for the holidays.
Contact General Air Conditioning & Plumbing today to schedule your pre-holiday plumbing service in the Coachella Valley.
