Hosting family and friends over the holidays can be a fun and joyous experience. It can also be incredibly stressful, especially if you suddenly find yourself having to deal with an unexpected plumbing issue. Increased usage of your kitchen and guest bathroom creates the risk of a range of different problems arising. By following these simple holiday plumbing tips, you can avoid most common issues and ensure that your holiday gathering goes off without a hitch.
Pre Hosting Plumbing Prep
The first thing on your holiday plumbing checklist should be to go around the house and make sure everything is ready for your guests and that no issues are present. It’s important to do this at least a few days or a few weeks in advance of your guests arriving. That way, you’ll have time to get a plumber out to your house to fix any problems you find.
Test guest bath fixtures; check shut offs; flush seldom used drains
If you have a guest bathroom that rarely gets used, you should take a few basic steps to prepare it. This includes testing that the toilet flushes properly and doesn’t keep running after you shut it off. If the toilet doesn’t shut off, it usually means that the rubber flapper is worn out and needs replacing. You also want to check that the shut-off valve for the toilet closes easily. This is important for ensuring that you can shut the water off to prevent the toilet from overflowing in case someone clogs it. The other thing to do is flush water down the sink and shower drains to ensure that the P-traps are full and prevent sewage odors from coming out of the drain.
What NOT to Put in the Disposal
The last thing you want is for your kitchen sink to clog during a holiday meal. Knowing what not to put in your garbage disposal is one of the biggest keys to preventing clogs. It’s equally important for preventing the disposal from getting jammed and not working.
Grease, bones, fibrous peels, coffee grounds, starches
Do not put any of these items in your garbage disposal. Grease and oil can solidify inside the disposal or drain and quickly cause a stubborn clog. Fibrous things like potatoes and potato skins, starches and coffee grounds are also common sources of clogs. Bones and other hard items should never go into a disposal, as they are likely to jam the impellers.
Sink & Drain Best Practices
If you want to prevent sink clogs, it’s important that your family and guests take certain precautions. By being careful, you can avoid needing to call an emergency plumber to unclog your sink over the holidays.
Strainers, hot water follow through, scrape plates to trash first
One crucial step for preventing clogs is to never wash or rinse dishes without a sink strainer in place. Even if you have a garbage disposal, you should still make sure that everyone knows to scrape their plates in the trash before putting them in the sink. Although you should always use cold water when running your garbage disposal, flushing the sink with plenty of hot water after doing dishes further reduces the chances of it clogging.
Guest Bathroom Etiquette & Signs of Trouble
Not everyone is as careful about what they flush down the toilet or wash down the drain. Simply talking with your guests about certain things and asking them to alert you to any problems can go a long way toward preventing plumbing emergencies.
Provide trash bins; warn on wipes; watch for gurgling/slow drains
Some of the main guest bathroom plumbing tips to follow are warning your guests not to flush wipes or sanitary products and making sure there is a trash can next to the toilet for them to dispose of these things. It’s also important for everyone to watch out for issues like gurgling, slow drains and toilets that don’t flush fully, as these are common signs of drain clogs or potentially a sewer issue.
DIY Quick Fixes vs. Calling a Pro
Some plumbing issues you can fix yourself fairly easily, such as using a plunger to clear a clogged sink or toilet. If you’re somewhat handy, you may even be able to repair a running toilet or dripping faucet yourself. For anything other than very basic tasks like these, it’s always best to hire a professional plumber.
Plunger/P trap check; avoid harsh chemicals; when to call All Klear 24/7
When dealing with a clog, the first thing to try is plunging the sink or toilet. What you shouldn’t do is use chemical drain cleaner, as these products are harsh enough to do serious damage to your plumbing. If you notice a sewer odor coming from a sink or shower, you should run the water to make sure the P-trap is full. If the smell persists, it can be a sign that your sewer line is blocked and may soon start backing up. When plumbing issues arise that you can’t tackle yourself, you can count on the experts at All Klear for help 24/7.
Next Steps
If you need an emergency plumber in Springfield, MO, All Klear is the company to call. Scheduling preventative plumbing maintenance with us before the holidays is the best way to avoid major problems. We also offer professional drain and sewer services and garbage disposal services and can help you overcome any issues you’re facing. For professional assistance from Springfield’s most trusted plumbing company, contact the pros at All Klear today.
