It’s essential to remember that plumbers will be especially busy during the holidays, just like anyone else. So, it’s best to consult with them early and ensure your home’s system is ready for your guests and visitors. Whether you’re hosting relatives for a few days or having a big party for Christmas or New Year’s, you will want to make sure your plumbing can handle the increased demand. At Steve Ray Plumbing, we have some tips to help you avoid plumbing problems and grant you peace of mind. You’ll be less stressed if you know your showers, sinks, and toilets will continue functioning properly throughout the holiday season.
Tell Guests How to Avoid Clogged Toilets
Whether your guests are simply visiting or staying with you through the holidays, they will need to use your facilities frequently. You can help avoid clogging problems by ensuring guests understand what should not be flushed down the toilet. The only things that should go down the toilet are waste and toilet paper. Occasionally, that can lead to clogs, so putting a plunger in every bathroom is a good practice so the situation can be dealt with quickly. Any of the following could lead to more complicated clogs and should be avoided:
Feminine hygiene products
Cleansing wipes
Cigarette butts
Facial pads or masks
Cotton balls and swabs
Paper towels or napkins
Use Garbage Disposal Properly
Many substances should not be disposed of in the garbage disposal to avoid clogs and damage to your drains. Sometimes homeowners treat their garbage disposal as a catch-all and think they can put anything down the drain and forget about it. In reality, most food waste should be disposed of in your kitchen trash can instead. Make sure your guests understand what guidelines to follow in the kitchen so your system is respected. Tell them these things should not be stored in the kitchen sink: rice, bread, pasta, animal bones, fat, eggshells, cooking oils, and grease. Paper, plastic, and metals need to be avoided as well. Consider investing in sink stoppers to help. If you notice any problems with your disposal, contact one of our expert plumbers at Steve Ray Plumbing.
Space Out Showers By 10-15 Minutes
For your overnight guests or family members, discuss having a shower schedule. This involves spacing out showers by 10-15 minutes to allow your hot water supply to replenish and your drains to clear out enough before the next use. Your guests will appreciate avoiding an ice-cold shower, so they should be happy to comply. It’s also important to recognize that each additional person using the shower will mean more hair that can potentially clog your drains, so consider using a drain stopper to catch the hair so you can dispose of it in the trash can instead. This will help keep your drains clear and avoid unnecessary clogs. However, if clogs happen and you notice standing water in your tub because the water isn’t draining properly, reach out to Steve Ray Plumbing, so we can administer professional plumbing services and restore your pipes.
Prepare Your Drains and Consult the Professionals
There are a few techniques you can employ yourself to help prepare your drains to be used more frequently. You can pour strong salt water or brine solution into your sink to eliminate unpleasant odors. It will also prevent grease from building up in your pipes. The best thing you can do is consult the professionals before your expected guests arrive. Hosting people for the holidays can put a lot of pressure on your home’s plumbing, so it’s best to get your system inspected by an expert to ensure it is functioning properly and prepares to handle an influx of plumbing needs. At Steve Ray Plumbing, we know you’d instead focus on the enjoyable aspects of the holidays: good food and company. Let us take the stress of plumbing off your plate so you can replace it with your delicious Christmas dinner. Call us at 217.793.0200 today so we can get your home ready for the holidays!