Winter is approaching, which means the holiday season is coming along with it. If you’re hosting a holiday party, dinner, or just plan on relaxing with close family and friends, then it’s time to start preparing! Playing host or hostess can be taxing, but it’s not as bad when you adequately prepare for it beforehand. If you have guests who will be spending the night in your home, then it’s even more important that you start preparing now.
Here are our tips for planning the perfect holiday gathering while avoiding some of the most common plumbing problems that occur this time of year!
Clear Your Drains
There’s nothing worse than taking a shower and finding yourself standing in a puddle of water, all because of a hair clog that does not belong to you. Don’t let your guests endure that misery while they spend a weekend in your home. Take precautions ahead of time and clear out the shower drain. There are a number of methods you could use to do this; here are some of our most recommended:
Snake the drain. Using a drain snake, insert it down the drain and then reverse the movement, pulling the snake out slowly to make sure it can snag on all of the trapped debris. You’ll find yourself with a nasty clump of hair along with other remnants of shampoo, body soaps, and conditioner.
Use a homemade mixture. Pour boiling hot water down the drain, which will help to dissolve the soaps and conditioners that linger. Then, dump half a cup of baking soda in the drain, along with half a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for an hour, and then dump more boiling water. This method might not be as effective if your clog is formed from hair.
If these methods don’t work for you, give our team a call! Our plumbing experts will be out quickly to inspect the clog and use our professional devices to clear that drain for you in no time.
No matter what method you choose, make sure to avoid chemical drain cleaners! Chemicals will only lead to more problems and headaches in the future, including injury, irritation, or damaged pipes.
Prevent Clogs
Once you’ve cleared out all of those clogged drains, it’s time to work on preventing drain clogs in the first place. To do this, purchase a drain cover; you can find inexpensive ones at any local Target or Walmart. That drain cover will catch any unwanted, non-liquid debris from floating down the drain. Once you and your guests are done showering, instruct them to dump the contents in the trash! That way, no one has to deal with anyone else’s hair and debris.
Monitor the Garbage Disposal
The next vulnerable space in your home’s plumbing is your garbage disposal, especially if guests are helping to prepare food for the event. It’s tempting to view and use the disposal as a convenient garbage can, but it is no such thing. It can handle bits of debris that might come off of a dirty plate, but not large scraps of food. To prevent guests from tossing food into the disposal, place a trashcan next to it or in the center of the kitchen for easy access. This will deter them from trying to use the sink as a dumping ground.
If you find yourself with a plumbing emergency on your hand this holiday season, don’t hesitate to give our experts a call! We’d be happy to help unclog those drains, fix the toilet and get the shower running again. Visit our website or call (626) 414-5583 for help!
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