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The Essential Guide to Winter Plumbing Prep: Keep Your Home Cozy and Dry!
The holidays are all about celebrating with family, friends, and good food, but an unexpected plumbing issue can quickly turn a festive gathering into a headache. Increased guests, extra cooking, and busy bathrooms can put a strain on your home’s plumbing system. To help you avoid any holiday hiccups, here are some simple tips from All Needz Plumbing to keep your home’s plumbing running smoothly and your gatherings worry-free!
1. Keep Kitchen Drains Clear
With all the delicious holiday cooking comes a lot of potential for clogged drains. Oils, fats, and food scraps can build up and lead to major blockages. To prevent this:
- Dispose of Fats Properly: Let cooking oils, fats, and grease cool, then scrape them into the trash rather than pouring them down the drain.
- Use Sink Strainers: These can catch food scraps and prevent them from washing down the drain. A quick cleanup now saves a big problem later!
Pro Tip: If you end up with a minor clog, a mixture of hot water and baking soda can sometimes clear it out without harsh chemicals.
2. Give Your Garbage Disposal a Holiday Lesson
Not everything belongs in the garbage disposal—certain items can actually damage the blades and lead to clogs. Remind everyone in the kitchen to avoid putting the following down the disposal:
- Potato peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds
- Bones, fruit pits, and fibrous vegetables (like celery)
- Pasta and rice, which expand in water and can lead to blockages
Quick Tip: Run cold water when using the disposal and keep it running for a few seconds after you turn off the disposal to help flush any remaining particles.
3. Check Your Water Heater for Holiday Guests
When you have a full house, your water heater works overtime. To make sure everyone gets a warm shower (and you avoid any mid-party water heater issues):
- Inspect Your Water Heater: Sediment can accumulate, reducing efficiency and water temperature. Flushing the tank can improve its performance.
- Turn Up the Temperature Slightly: Raising the temperature a few degrees can help if you’ll have several guests. Just be careful not to exceed 120°F to avoid burns.
Pro Tip: If your water heater is older, consider scheduling a quick inspection. This can help catch any potential problems before your guests arrive.
4. Prepare Bathrooms for Extra Use
With more people in the house, the bathrooms will see extra traffic, making it more likely for toilets to clog. Here’s how to keep things running smoothly:
- Place a Waste Bin Nearby: Encourage guests to use it for items like paper towels, makeup wipes, and anything else that shouldn’t be flushed.
- Stock Up on Toilet Paper: Keeping a spare roll or two handy reduces the chance of anyone overloading the toilet.
- Encourage Small Flushes: If you know the plumbing is older or more delicate, a gentle reminder to guests about flushing smaller amounts can make a difference.
Did You Know? Some of the most common causes of clogs are things that seem flushable but aren’t. Items labeled “flushable” like certain wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, which can lead to clogs.
5. Schedule a Pre-Holiday Plumbing Inspection
The best way to avoid a plumbing emergency is to catch issues before they happen. Our team at All Needz Plumbing can perform a thorough inspection to ensure your system is holiday-ready. We’ll check for potential blockages, ensure your water heater is up to the task, and even inspect those under-sink pipes for any signs of leaks or wear.
Schedule your pre-holiday plumbing inspection with All Needz Plumbing today! Our team will make sure your home’s plumbing is ready to handle the holiday rush, leaving you free to focus on what really matters—enjoying time with family and friends.
By following these tips, you can ensure your holiday gatherings are festive, stress-free, and, most importantly, plumbing-problem-free! From all of us at All Needz Plumbing, happy holidays, and may your gatherings be filled with joy (and no plumbing woes)!
