The season is perfect. Except when you’re ankle-deep in water or frantically trying to figure out what’s causing your clogged drain. When your house guests ring the doorbell, ensure you’re prepared to avoid a plumbing emergency and enjoy the holidays without a hitch. Check out these four tips for avoiding a holiday plumbing disaster.
Check Your Sink Drains
You’ll use your kitchen sink a lot between cooking and entertaining guests. Knowing what you’re putting down the sink drain when cooking is critical. Certain substances can not only cause a foul odor to permeate your kitchen, but they can also cause clogged drains.
Never flush grease or other oils down the toilet. When these substances cool, they harden and can cause a blockage in the drainpipe, resulting in clogs and overflowing sinks. Instead, store leftover grease in a jar or container and dispose of it later.
Potato peels are another common item that ends up in the kitchen sink. Potato starches, for example, will act as the glue in your plumbing lines, sticking inside pipes instead of draining properly. Contact a Plumber Rocklin CA expert to unclog your pipes and clean the drain.
Take Care of Your Toilets
More people in your home will flush your toilets more frequently. Do not flush anything other than used toilet paper and human waste. Other products are not designed to be flushed because they will not dissolve or degrade.
Remind your guests not to flush feminine hygiene products, sanitary napkins, baby wipes, paper towels, wrappers, cotton balls, and other paper products. If you flush these items down the toilet, it is more likely to clog and overflow.
Your overnight visitors may be unsure what they should and should not flush. Consider using a sign in the bathroom to remind them that they shouldn’t put down the toilet to avoid an extensive clog from occurring.
Prevent Pipe Bursts
When temperatures fall below 32 degrees, your home’s pipes are more prone to freezing and breaking, especially if they are already loose and damaged. The liquid in plumbing pipes or water lines will freeze and expand, potentially bursting the pipe and causing widespread water leaks.
To avoid an expensive pipe repair, wrap and insulate any exposed pipes in a crawl space, basement, storage area, or attic. If you intend to travel, keep your furnace running to ensure your Rocklin CA home is adequately heated.
Avoid Putting Strain On Your Water Heater
If you have a lot of overnight guests who are showering back-to-back this holiday season, your water heater will feel the extra strain. Your water heater may overwork and even fail if it is an older model.
Encourage your family and guests to wait at least 10 to 20 minutes between showers to avoid cold showers and unhappy guests. Avoid running other appliances in your homes that use warm water while your guests are showering, such as the dishwasher or washing machines. You should also double-check your water heater settings to ensure that they are set to accommodate the number of people in your Rocklin CA home.
Water heaters must eventually be replaced. If your water heater is over ten years old, it might be time for a replacement. To avoid plumbing mishaps, replace your water heater before the holiday season begins.
What’s Next?
Even if your home’s plumbing system appears in good working order, you should contact your plumber Rocklin CA before hosting any overnight guests to avoid plumbing issues this holiday season. New Flow Plumbing can perform a full plumbing inspection and check your pipes for any loose seals, cracks, or other damage. Call 916-527-8885 to schedule an appointment!
