There is the family, friends and never-ending feasts that the holiday season is associated with, and there is also one of the most widespread headaches in the household, clogged drains. Your plumbing system can soon be overwhelmed by heavy cooking, additional visitors and more water use. The good news? The right preventive strategies can also help you maintain a smooth flow, taking into consideration that you will not have to call plumbers at the last moment to help you in your celebrations.
Why Drains are More Clogged During Holidays
Home drains over time during the holidays. Kitchen sinks deal with grease and food scraps when it comes to festive meals, and bathrooms have an additional use as well, due to guests. Added to this is full-time garbage disposal, so it is no wonder that the drains can clog quickly than normal. Cold weather is also contributing to making clogs stubborn, as the grease solidifies and the water flow is slowed down.
To be a proactive individual, you should know what normally leads to these blockages, which include grease, starch, fibrous foods, soap scum and hair, and take measures to prevent them before your guests come.
Keep the Grease Out
The biggest plumbing error by cooking on holiday is to pour hot grease or oil into the sink. The grease solidifies when it cools down in the pipes, creating intractable blockages that trap food and debris. Alternatively, put the cooled grease in a container/jar, and place it with your household garbage. When you cook a lot, and especially when you prepare big meals, it is worth having a special grease can where you can store the grease to clean the dishes easily and safely.
Apply Drain Strainers
This mini but powerful tool can help you get out of significant plumbing problems. Install strainers in kitchen sinks, showers and tubs to trap food particles, soap film and hair before it gets into your pipes. Strainers should be emptied on a regular basis, particularly during peak days. Even garbage disposals can have a quick screen or catcher so that you do not have to stuff garbage into your drain pipes.
Mind the Garbage Disposal
Although your garbage disposal is capable of disposing of small food particles, it is not meant to dispose of all. Do not put fibrous or starchy material (such as potato peel, celery, rice or coffee grounds) in the disposal. These substances pile up and entangle blades, resulting in pocks. Always use cold running water when using the disposal, which will solidify the small pieces of grease to enable them to be chopped and washed away effectively.
Stop Bathroom Overloading
Bathroom drains may fail to cope with additional demand from additional guests, showers, and laundry. Ask family members and visitors to space showers by 10 to 15 minutes so that the drains can clear. Install shower drain covers to prevent hair and build-up of soaps, and clean them every day. Instruct guests to avoid flushing wipes, cotton pads, or hygiene products, regardless of what the package says; these products are not intended to dissolve in water and create significant plumbing blockages.
Run Hot Water Consistently
Run hot water for 30 seconds after cooking or cleaning and you will notice a considerable difference. The hot water assists in clearing up grease and detergent residues that cling on the inner pipes. The final step in the bathroom is the use of hot water that rinses away any remaining oils in soaps or conditioners. A basic cleaning schedule will help a lot in ensuring pipes are not clogged during peak hours.
Wash and Re-wash Drains
Minor pre-holiday servicing can avert major issues. Take out and wash up sink stoppers, bathtub plugs, and visible drain covers to clean out the build-up. There is also a safe homemade solution to flushing drains- one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar and rinse it under hot water. The mixture can be used to clean organic residues naturally and make your plumbing shine with no hard chemicals.
To be well prepared in time before the holidays, have your drain professionally cleaned or inspected just to be sure that you are in good condition to have guests.
Prepare in Advance
Despite the preventive care, unforeseen blockages may occur, particularly in the older California buildings or those that were built up in the past. It is better to know who to call when this happens so that you enjoy your holidays. White Glove Plumbing offers 24/7 residential plumbing and water-damage repair services in Los Angeles and Orange County, in case you live in Southern California. Their licensed and insured staff is reputed to be fast, neat, and polite- this is suitable among the homeowners who do not want their plumbing issues to cause a commotion.
Conclusion
Plugged-up pipes need not be a part of your holiday narrative. By adopting a conscientious lifestyle, such as disposing of grease properly, using strainers, using hot water, and spacing bathrooms, you will be able to enjoy your celebrations without any plumbing concerns. All you need to do is keep your drains in shape, and your holidays happy, sunny, and stress-free, is a simple preparation and a watchful eye.
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