Preparing Your Plumbing for the Holidays

Holiday Plumbing Checklist

The holidays are coming fast! Is your plumbing ready for winter guests? If not, then now is the time to get prepared. The holidays are a terrible time for your plumbing to back up, or for your garbage disposal to stop working. These tips will help you improve or repair your plumbing system and also avoid problems during the holidays.

Clear Slow Drains

Slow drains can be a big problem when more than one family is using your bathrooms. Clearing slow drains is the best way to ensure that your guests and the rest of your family will be able to take showers. There are a variety of household products that can help clear away clogs and remove debris from your drains.

Vinegar and hot water: Vinegar is acidic and can help wash away organic debris in your drains. Pour vinegar into your drains and allow it to sit for several hours. Flush away with hot water.
Baking soda and vinegar: Baking soda is a cleaning agent that can wash away grease and sticky gunk. Sprinkle baking soda into the drains, and then pour vinegar on top of the baking soda. Let the combination sit in the drains for several hours. Then flush the mixture away with hot water.

If this doesn’t work, use a plumber’s auger to remove clogs. To do this, insert the auger cable into the drain and push the cable down until it encounters the clog.

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Put Garbage Cans In Every Bathroom

Your guests might be tempted to flush items like tampons and wipes if they can’t find a bathroom garbage can when they need it. To prevent problems, place bathroom garbage cans in an obvious position near the toilet.

Clean the Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal plays an important role in your holiday feasts. To ensure that your garbage disposal is up to the challenge, pour rock salt and ice into the disposal. Run cold water and turn the disposal on. This will help sharpen the blades and also help clear the disposal of leftover food.

Investigate Sewer Problems

Sewer problems can put your holiday plans on hold. If your sewers are presenting signs of trouble, have your plumber investigate these problems before your guests arrive. Signs of sewer problems are obvious when:

All the drains in the house become slow at once.
Strange gurgling noises from the drains can be heard Water from one plumbing fixture runs into another, instead of draining properly.

If you’ve noticed any of these problems occurring in your house, contact a plumber immediately.

Use A Drain Strainer

Buy drain strainers for the kitchen sink, bathtubs, and showers. Drain strainers prevent hair and food from flowing down your drain and creating clogs.

Contact Terry’s Plumbing

If you’re getting ready for the holidays and your home’s plumbing is showing signs of trouble, contact your plumber right away. At Terry’s Plumbing, we’re happy to help our clients get ready for their big holiday celebrations. To make an appointment, contact us today at 412-364-9114.