Look Out For These Holiday Plumbing Issues

Holidays tend to center around food, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But when you’re preparing large quantities of food or washing dishes for your family plus several others, it can put a strain on your kitchen plumbing. Use these tips to keep the focus on the food and not on broken pipes and drains. 

Clogged Drains

Large meals are the focal point of any family get-together, holiday season or not. But unfortunately, a lot of cooking can often lead to clogged drains. 

To prevent this from happening, refrain from letting grease, oil or fat from cooking go down the drain. Instead, collect it and put it directly in the garbage can. It’s also a good idea to let hot water flush the drain in your kitchen sink after washing dishes. Running the tap for at least 30 seconds will help prevent clogs. 

While there are some foods it’s okay to let go down the drain, it’s always best to dispose of as much food as possible in the trash. To help keep your drains running smoothly this holiday season, see our list of holiday foods that should never go down your drain.

Broken Garbage Disposal

In the same way that your grandmother’s gravy recipe could lead to some seriously clogged drains, a lot of holiday cooking can lead to a broken or clogged garbage disposal. Like we noted previously, clear plates and casserole dishes of as much food waste as possible before putting them in the sink to be washed. 

Wondering why your garbage disposal is not working? Well, while there are some food items that garbage disposals can easily handle, there are some you want to avoid. Coffee grounds, nuts, seeds, rice, pasta, animal bones and particularly fibrous vegetables are all items to avoid putting in the garbage disposal. 

You can follow all of these tips and still have issues with your garbage disposal from time to time, especially if it’s getting more use than normal. If you run into an issue with your garbage disposal you can’t fix on your own, seek out the help of a plumbing company that can provide garbage disposal repair services. 

Just as the holidays can mean more cooking and dishes at your home, it stands to reason your bathroom will also be seeing an increase in use. Avoid common holiday bathroom blunders and consult our tips to keep your sewer lines and water heater in working order. 

Backed Up Sewer Line

Probably the last thing you want to deal with when you have a house full of people for the holidays is a backed up sewer line. From clogged toilets to a gurgling sound that means your plumbing is on the verge of a backup, it’s never a good idea to ignore a potentially backed up sewer line. It’s best to call in professionals who specialize in sewer line repair and can identify the cause of your drain issues. 

A good way to prevent future sewer line issues is to keep a small trash can by the toilet to help prevent guests from flushing items they shouldn’t, like baby wipes or feminine hygiene products.  While you hope that most of your guests know that the only thing that should be flushed down the toilet is “number one,” “number two,” and toilet paper, it’s best not to assume. 

Broken Water Heater

Not all holiday parties involve the guests spending the night, but when the temperatures drop and things get frigid outside, you’ll want to make sure you can take a nice relaxing bath or shower after the guests have gone home. 

Unfortunately, a lot of water heater issues occur during cold months as the tanks work harder to keep water warm. If your water heater can’t keep up with the demands you’re placing on it, it may be time to schedule water heater repair services. Having your water heater inspected can help catch issues with drainage, corrosion and sediment buildup. If your water heater is over 10 years, a plumber may recommend you replace it.

While the bathroom and kitchen will probably be seeing the most love this holiday season, it’s important not to forget about the rest of the house. From slow leaks to emergencies like burst pipes or a leaking water heater, it’s important to act fast when you discover a plumbing issue in your home. 

Water Leaks / Burst Pipes

The winter months are notoriously hard on plumbing, where cycles of freezing and thawing create stress on pipes. Imagine sitting at dinner enjoying a holiday meal with your family and suddenly finding yourself staring at a large water spot on the ceiling. It’s an unpleasant thought, which is why you should consider installing a water leak detector in your home to help sense leaks before they become a big problem.

Emergency Plumbing Problems

Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, there are some plumbing problems you can’t prevent or solve on your own. If you’re experiencing an emergency, call your Atlanta emergency plumbers at Plumb Works. We always have a plumber on call to assist you with your urgent plumbing problems, in both residential and commercial settings.