subject: Top 10 Holiday Plumbing Tips [print this page] Top 10 Holiday Plumbing Tips Top 10 Holiday Plumbing Tips
Christmas time is known to be one of the busiest times of the year for plumbers and drain cleaning professionals. Sewage systems can become overrun with additional house guests, causing inconvenient backups. While preparing and cleaning up holiday meals, homeowners can also clog up their sinks, garbage disposals and dishwashers. Below are 10 steps to help you avoid calling a plumber this holiday season.
Top 10 Holiday Plumbing Tips
Do not under any circumstance dump grease directly down your drain. Grease solidifies when it cools, and will solidify on the inside of your plumbing.
Always collect excess grease in spare containers. Wait for it to solidify and then dispose of it.
Never force large amounts of food down the garbage disposal at once. Give the unit plenty of time to grind the food before adding more.
Don't use your garbage disposal as a trash can. Turkey bones splinter (that's why you can't feed them to your dog), and fibrous vegetable skins can wind around the blade, causing the disposal to come to a screeching halt.
Always turn on the water before starting the garbage disposal, and keep it running for a minute after turning off the disposal to move the waste through the pipes.
Christmas Dinner leftovers can do a number on your sink. Make sure all food scraps are scraped off plates before rinsing. Letting food remnants slide down your drain will cause backups in your kitchen pipes.
Also, make sure dishes are scraped clean before placing them in the dishwasher. Food scraps can collect in the dishwasher and prevent proper drainage.
Keep the area around your sink and disposal clear. Utensils and other kitchen tools can slip into your garbage disposal, bringing it to a screeching stop.
Avoid leaving paper towels in bathrooms. If toilet paper supplies run empty, guests may reach for paper towels instead; which can stop up toilets quickly.
And finally, don't offer to host Christmas Dinner if your sewage system tends to run slow. The sheer volume of additional guests can strain your system, and cause bathroom backups. There's no quicker way to ruin a Christmas Dinner than having a main line backup in your home.
Learn more about our services by visiting us at Affordable Plumbing Solutions.
