Because holidays are a time of food, family, and fun, our plumbing systems bear the brunt of a tremendous amount of water and waste in a short time. But, we can take steps to protect our plumbing from crucial mistakes that can cause backups, jams, or breakdowns. Here are some of the things to keep in mind about your plumbing when holiday visitors arrive, whether it’s for eats or accommodations.
Protect the toilet
Company means flushing, which isn’t bad unto itself; however, make sure that there are no small parts, ladies products, pet toys, and so on, for children --or adults--to flush down the toilet. The paper, the whole paper, and nothing but the paper is a great concept when it comes to things that can go down the toilet besides waste.
The garbage disposal
Your garbage disposal is a fantastic invention, but it isn’t the Black Hole of kitchens. Be careful with what you allow it to have. Anything fibrous, nonfood, or starchy (like noodles, pasta, potato peels) is going to give it a sick tummy. Also, don’t allow it to chew anything you can’t: chicken bones, shrimp shells, and popcorn kernels come to mind. If there is one time when it’s better to risk nothing and throw everything in the trash, it’s the holidays. Above all, watch out for the FOG: fat, oil, and grease. These are the components which line the pipe with the same substances that bind the circulatory system and give people heart attacks.
Waterworks
When entertaining houseguests, it isn’t unreasonable to ask them to stagger the showers and to limit their time in the shower just for that one day. Your plumbing can do a mighty job, but showers, flushing, dishes, and more can be a bit over the top when they’re packed together in a short time. If you are unwilling to involve your guests in the staggering of showers, ask family members to take showers the night before a holiday event to ease the load.
Dishwasher
If you take a few moments before a holiday to clean your dishwasher, it will ensure that the interior will be odor free to prevent needless embarrassment if the guests decide to help you in the kitchen. The dishes will also come out clean and spot-free, which is why we suggest you do this before entertaining.
We hope these tips will help your holiday, and your plumbing runs smoothly in the coming weeks. If you have a plumbing issue you’d like for us to help you resolve, we’d love to hear from you. If not, have a happy holiday season.
If you need an honest, dependable plumber in the Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe or Chandler area, call Jimmy at 480-757-1273.
