Here are some easy tips to prevent holiday plumbing emergencies and service calls, whether you’re hosting guests or taking a trip.
If you’re hosting friends or family for a day or a week, the holiday will be more fun and relaxing if you can avoid a plumbing emergency! Follow these DOs and DON’Ts to reduce the likelihood that you’ll face any inconvenient plumbing problems during your holiday.
In the kitchen, take care of your sink drain and disposal. Of course, this applies all year but can be especially important as you prepare for the additional use of your kitchen sink as you prep for holiday meals!
- DON’T pour fatty or oily substances down your drain; they can solidify in your pipes and cause clogging. DO pour oil and grease into an empty jar and dispose of it in your garbage.
- DO make sure the disposal is running before you try to use it; DON’T stuff food in the drain and then try to turn on the disposal.
- DON’T put stringy produce, especially celery, in the disposal. DO put it in the compost or trash can.
- DO run the disposal every time you put something in. DON’T allow food to build up and jam the disposal.
Extra people in your home means more folks taking showers, flushing toilets and running the washing machine. The extra activity can burden your water system, drains and plumbing.
- DO wait ten or fifteen minutes between showers to reduce the chance of showers overflowing.
- DO install a screen on shower drains to catch hair before it goes down the drain, where it can clog the pipes.
- DO provide a trashcan in every bathroom; DON’T use your toilets for any products except toilet paper.
- DO laundry and run the dishwasher at night to reduce the load on your water lines and improve water pressure for other uses.
Don’t think you’re off the hook if you won’t be home for the holidays. Even worse than a plumbing problem while you’re home is one that occurs when you’re NOT home! Keep your heat set to at least 55° to avoid frozen pipes. Turn off the main water in the house to reduce the chance of any unexpected leaks; water moves quickly and even a tiny leak can wreak havoc on an unoccupied house.
Of course, if you do find yourself with a plumbing emergency in the Charlottesville area, Fitch Services is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, all holidays included. Give us a call, and our on-call plumber will respond quickly to resolve your plumbing problems so you can continue to enjoy your holiday!