Protecting Your Plumbing from Holiday Hosting
The holidays are right around the corner, and with them often come gatherings small and large in residential homes. This also means a higher number of people in the home making use of the facilities, which can result in unexpected plumbing emergencies if you aren’t prepared.
To make sure your kitchen sink drains like a dream and your bathrooms are ready to greet your guests with fancy soaps instead of clogged toilets, here are seven things to keep in mind as you welcome family and friends into your home for the holiday festivities:
Protect Your Plumbing
Our number one tip for avoiding holiday plumbing disasters is to take preventative measures. By ensuring your plumbing is in peak working condition and incorporating elements to reduce build-up in your pipes, you’re less likely to end up in an emergency plumbing situation while the grandparents visit for the holidays.
1. Consider Installing a Water Softener
Depending on how hard the water is in your area, consider installing a water softener system. Water softeners help break down hard minerals in your water supply, reducing build-up and mineral deposits in your pipes. This is a common issue for our customers in Las Vegas, Nevada, where many homeowners have hard water due to calcium and magnesium ions.
To test for hard water, add 15-20 drops of dish soap to a bottle of tap water and shake vigorously. If the water appears cloudy or you don’t have fluffy bubbles from the soap, your water is hard. You can also check your water hardness by zip code here.
2. Inspect Your Plumbing Before Guests Arrive
Inspecting your plumbing every once in a while is a good preventative practice. If it has been a while since you had your plumbing inspected, do so before your loved ones come to visit. At Silver State, we offer a plumbing maintenance club that keeps you covered for everything from routine inspections to emergency repairs, keeping your holidays worry-free.
3. Know the Warning Signs of a Plumbing Emergency
Sometimes, plumbing problems can turn into emergencies rather quickly. Be aware of the signs of a plumbing emergency so you don’t wait too long to get the help you need! These signs include multiple clogged drains, toilets backing up, and noticeably lower-than-normal water pressure.
Protect Your Kitchen Sink
The holiday season inevitably involves a lot more time in the kitchen, along with more people than usual using your kitchen. Make sure anyone working in your kitchen is mindful of not putting anything down the drain that doesn’t belong there, and let them know if you don’t have a garbage disposal to avoid your kitchen sink getting backed up.
4. No Grease Down the Drain
Grease and cooking oils solidify in drains and cause blockages. Any greases and oils left over from cooking should go in the trash, not your kitchen sink! We’re looking at you, Thanksgiving turkey.
5. Be Mindful of Food Scraps
If you don’t have a garbage disposal, keep the food scraps out of the sink completely. You could also get a mesh cover to protect your sink from food accidentally going down the drain.
If you have a garbage disposal, remember that not all food scraps are safe to send down the drain. Absorbent foods like pasta, beans, and potatoes can expand and create blockages. Fibrous foods like celery and rhubarb can wrap around the garbage disposal mechanism and cause it to break. You should also avoid putting eggshells or animal bones down the garbage disposal.
Protect Your Toilets
Are your toilets ready to serve an increased number of people? Having more users increases the likelihood of toilet problems and clogs. Make sure you’re prepared!
6. Flushable Doesn’t Always Mean Flushable
While some products may market themselves as flushable, most of them aren’t safe for all septic systems! Avoid stocking your bathrooms with flushable wipes, and ask your guests to only send toilet paper and human waste down the toilet.
7. Equip Yourself for Clogged Toilets
Even with top-of-the-line toilets and everyone following flushing best practices, clogs are a possibility. Make sure you have a good plunger and know the best methods for unclogging a toilet. For extra protection, consider investing in a drain snake to deal with really stubborn clogs, and be sure to have Silver State on call for all of your unexpected plumbing needs!
Bonus Tips for Hosting Over the Holidays
Beyond these seven big tips, here is some additional advice for keeping your plumbing safe throughout your home, no matter who is using it:
- If hosting more people than usual in the home, wait 10-15 minutes between showers
- Let faucets drip slowly on cold nights to avoid frozen pipes
- Run the dishwasher after all other dishes are done to avoid backups
- Avoid having “too many cooks in the kitchen” to reduce the chances of accidents like food in a sink that doesn’t have a garbage disposal
- Prep your drains by pouring a brine solution down them to eliminate odors and reduce grease buildup
- Make note of your emergency plumbing pros, so you know who to call right away if the worst occurs!
When Your Plumbing Has a Problem, Silver State Has the Solution!
Our team of plumbing experts at Silver State are well-versed in all manner of residential pipe and plumbing issues, ensuring you get the service you need when you call us. Serving customers throughout Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, and Texas, you can count on us to protect your plumbing and your home from dire situations. Contact us 24/7 for plumbing emergencies at (702) 763-9451 or click the “Book Now” button at the top of this page to schedule your service with us.
