Holiday Plumbing Issues

With Christmas here in one short week, you’re probably busy buying gifts and preparing to host a big holiday dinner with your family and friends.

During the holiday’s we use our kitchens more than usual. This can result in more grease and food waste down the kitchen drain and garburator.  We all get so caught up in the holiday madness that plumbing and heating issues are the last things on our minds.

By taking the following precautions, you can prevent holiday plumbing issues like clogs and blockages and avoid an emergency call to a plumber.

Kitchen – Holiday Plumbing Issues

A few key items to pay attention to avoid kitchen holiday plumbing issues are:

Fats/Cooking Oils

Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain. There, they will solidify in the pipes and cause clogs. Instead, wipe the grease from pots and pans with paper towels prior to rinsing them. Put the paper towels in the compost bin.

Garburator

Run the water for 10-15 seconds before and after using the garburator. This will flush and move the waste down the main sewer line.

Also, make sure the garburator is running when you put the food into it.

Dishwasher

Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or during non-peak times during the day. This will help conserve the water temperature and pressure for those in your home. Too much demand and usage of water throughout the house will result in low water pressure and a lack of hot water for everyone.

Bathroom – Holiday Plumbing Issues

A few key items to pay attention to avoid bathroom holiday plumbing issues are:

Showering

Prevent plumbing problems by spreading showers throughout the day. We also recommend waiting 10-15 minutes between showers to ensure drains have time to clear and your water heater has a chance to recover. There is nothing worse than running out of hot water part way through a shower.

Toilet

Never flush cotton balls, hair, facial wipes or similar items down the toilet. These items don’t dissolve and are responsible for most clogs. Ensure there is a garbage bin in all your bathrooms that are readily available for your guests to use.

 

If you experience any holiday plumbing issues, contact Universal Plumbing & Heating right away. We provide 24/7 Emergency Service at 604-873-3551.