As the holidays near, you may be preparing your home to host family or friends for an extended period of time. Amidst the cleaning and meal preparations, don’t neglect to give some attention to your home’s plumbing system to divert possible holiday plumbing catastrophes. Fix existing problems now to keep from dealing with that embarrassing plumbing emergency with a house full of guests. If you know you have a clogged toilet or drain, garbage disposal issues or a water heater that isn’t working correctly, have those concerns addressed by a professional plumber before your guests arrive.
Regarding the unwelcomed toilet clog, remember that the only things that should be flushed down your toilet are toilet paper and human waste! Your toilet can end up clogged by the use of too much toilet paper and from inappropriate items that find their way into the toilet and get flushed, such as sanitary napkins, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, cotton balls and paper towels, to name a few. If you’re having overnight guests, chances are somebody won’t follow the “toilet paper only rule” so you may consider a bathroom sign with reminders of what not to flush.
Do you need to give your drains some seriously overdue attention? You likely rely on a basic drain cleaning product for when the bathtub is backing up or the kitchen sink will not drain but this short term solution often won’t rectify the situation. Scheduled drain cleaning or an emergency drain cleaning when you first see the back-up, can keep your drains from getting clogged and creating dirty water and a stench that you would have to discuss with those guests.
It’s helpful to realize that your garbage disposal can only handle so much, and in many cases, it can’t handle many different types of foods and liquids. Consider what you’re putting through your garbage disposal and don’t treat it as a trash can after the big holiday meal is ended. Food items that should not be put in the garbage disposal include celery, potatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, grease, oil, fat, bones, egg shells, pasta, rice, and coffee. These types of items are hard for the disposal blades to grind up and generate blockages in your drains. Always run cold water when you use your garbage disposal and include a small amount of dish soap when cleaning it.
If you’ve neglected your water heater maintenance, don’t be surprised if your house guests don’t get to enjoy the hottest of showers during their stay. Don’t forget that newer water heaters are more energy efficient, so if yours is above 10-15 years old, it may be time to start looking into a new one to be sure you don’t have that sudden burst of cold water for extended periods of time. And if you’ve got a house full of guests, wait at least 15 minutes between showers to give time for hot water to replenish.