The holidays are a festive time of year, filled with parties and events, potentially requiring additional use of the plumbing in your home. More people in your house means possible increased wear and tear on your home’s plumbing system, potentially leading to clogs. We’ve compiled 11 tips to help you prevent plumbing clogs so you can keep your focus on friends and family this holiday season.
Tip 1: Properly Dispose of Grease and Oil
While pouring grease and oil down your home’s drains appears harmless, it is one of the worst things you can do to your plumbing system. These substances solidify as they cool, adhering to the inner walls of your pipes and causing stubborn blockages. Over time, this buildup can narrow the passageway, significantly affecting water flow and trapping other debris, which may lead to severe clogs and even pipe damage. This not only disrupts your daily living activities but can also result in costly repairs and unpleasant odors emanating from your drains.
To prevent these issues, pour grease and oil into a disposable container and allow them to cool before putting the container in the garbage. You might also consider reusing certain oils and greases for future cooking tasks if appropriate.
Tip 2: Be Careful While Using the Garbage Disposal
When there are more people in your home during the holidays, you might end up having more food going down the garbage disposal in your kitchen. Some foods are not great for your garbage disposal, so it is essential to educate your guests on what should and shouldn’t go down the drain. Posting a note by your kitchen sink is a good way to alert guests on how you use your home’s garbage disposal. You can remind them to use the trash for things like bones, fruit pits, pasta, corn husks, and large pieces of meat. Also, avoid putting potato peels, celery, coffee grounds, and eggshells in your disposal.
Baking is a cherished holiday tradition, but the process may unintentionally contribute to plumbing clogs. Ingredients like flour, dough, batter, and even cake frosting can create blockages when washed down the sink. To avoid these stubborn clogs, scrape your excess holiday baking ingredients into the trash.
Tip 3: Install Drain Strainers
A great method to keep food and other debris from going down your home’s drains is to install drain strainers. Drain strainers catch hair, food particles, and other solid materials from clogging your sinks and showers. They are inexpensive and easy to install. To clean out these strainers, all you have to do is shake them out in the trash can and rinse them off. Strainers are a wonderful way to keep your drains clear during heavy usage over the holidays.
Tip 4: Instruct Guests in the Proper Use of Toilets
Remind guests that they should only put toilet paper down the toilets in your home and nothing else. You may consider posting a reminder in your home’s bathrooms and only providing toilet paper for guest use in the bathrooms.
Tip 5: Stagger High Water Usage Activities
Low water pressure can contribute to clogs by slowing the flow of water through your pipes. When water moves too slowly, debris like soap scum, grease, and food particles don’t get flushed out as effectively, increasing the likelihood of buildup. Over time, this accumulation can cause blockages. By staggering high-water-usage activities, such as showering and running appliances, you can help maintain steady pressure and reduce the risk of clogs.
Tip 6: Keep Plumbing Tools at Your Disposal
When you have a house full of guests during the holidays, it is always important to have a plunger by every toilet and smaller ones under each sink. There are specific plungers for toilets and sinks. A plunger can help if there is a small blockage that just needs a little loosening to get it to move down the pipes.
Tip 7: Plan a Preholiday Plumbing Check
Preventative maintenance for your home’s pipes will help ensure a worry-free holiday season. It is essential to make a list of things you want checked so everything is taken care of when one of our plumbers visits your home. This proactive approach can help reduce the possibility of an unexpected breakdown and build confidence going into the holiday season, knowing that your home’s plumbing system is ready for the increased load it will incur.
Tip 8: Address Hard Water Problems Before the Holidays
If your home has a problem with hard water, it may contribute to plumbing clogs. Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which over time may accumulate inside of your pipes and reduce water flow. If you have mineral stains, stiff laundry, or soap scum buildup on your skin or dishes, then you may have an issue with hard water in your home. A water softener can help you limit these issues. A knowledgeable plumber, like those we have at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical, can help you decide on a water softener that works for your home.
Tip 9: Avoid the Use of Chemical Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that can degrade pipes and cause them to leak. Your home’s pipes can also succumb to more serious issues over time because of deterioration from chemicals. While these cleaners can work for slow drains in your home, over time, they corrode pipes and are also horrible for the environment. A better way to rinse out drains would be to use hot water or a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Then, call one of our professionals to check the pipes and make sure that the clog is completely gone and hasn’t settled in the sewer line.
Tip 10: Perform Dishwasher Maintenance
With the increase in holiday cooking and cleaning, your dishwasher will work overtime, which may lead to clogs from things like food particles and soap residue. Regularly clean the dishwasher filter to get rid of trapped debris. Also, it is important to have the drain hose checked regularly for blockages or other issues. Running an empty cycle with vinegar or dishwasher cleaner helps break down the grease and mineral deposits that collect. This type of regular maintenance, before your guests arrive for the holidays, helps give you peace of mind that your home’s dishwasher will be able to handle the increased usage and stay clog-free.
Tip 11: Insulate Exposed Pipes to Prevent Freezing
During the colder months of the holiday season in Camp Verde, exposed pipes in unheated areas like basements, garages, or crawl spaces are at risk of freezing. Frozen pipes can lead to blockages and even burst pipes, causing significant water damage and costly repairs. To have a worry-free holiday, make sure that you have your home’s pipes inspected to ensure that they are all well-insulated.
At Goettl's High Desert Mechanical, we provide a variety of plumbing services for residents of Camp Verde and surrounding areas. Turn to us for work involving drain clogs, garbage disposals, and plumbing repairs. Our company also provides heating repair, replacement, and maintenance services and the same for air conditioners. Contact Goettl's High Desert Mechanical for more information today!
