As the holidays grow closer, you may be getting your home ready to host family or friends for an extended period of time. Amidst the cleaning and meal preparations, don’t forget to give some attention to your home’s plumbing system to divert possible holiday plumbing catastrophes. Correct known issues 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 doesn’t function properly, have those concerns addressed by a professional plumber before your guests arrive.
Regarding the dreaded 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 unacceptable things 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 think about a bathroom sign with reminders of what not to flush.
Do you need to give your drains some seriously overdue attention? You may have a basic drain cleaning product for when the bathtub is backing up or the kitchen sink doesn’t drain but this short term solution often won’t fix the issue. Routine drain cleaning or an emergency drain cleaning when you first see the back-up, can prevent your drains from getting clogged and causing murky water and a smell that you would have to explain to those guests.
It’s helpful to realize that your garbage disposal can only handle so much, and in many cases, it can’t take many different types of foods and liquids. Be mindful of what you’re putting down your garbage disposal and don’t use it as a trash can after the big holiday meal is finished. Food items that should not be sent through the garbage disposal include celery, potatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, grease, oil, fat, bones, egg shells, pasta, rice, and coffee. These types of items are challenging for the disposal blades to grind up and cause 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 ignored your water heater maintenance, don’t be surprised if your house guests don’t get to enjoy the hottest of showers during their visit. Don’t forget that newer water heaters are more energy efficient, so if yours is over 10-15 years old, it may be time to begin looking into a new one to be assured you don’t have that sudden burst of cold water for several days in a row. And if you’ve got a house full of guests, wait at least 15 minutes between showers to grant time for hot water to refresh.