When it comes to celebrating the holiday season, many of us choose to do so alongside family and friends. We share dinners and parties, and yes, even our plumbing. The last thing that you need while you’re celebrating with loved ones is a major plumbing issue to pop up. So, prepare early to handle the extra guests, and take advantage of these easy preventive maintenance measures for overall peace of mind during the holiday season.
How to Prevent Common Holiday Plumbing Issues
- Check for Leaks – Before anyone even steps foot into your home for the holidays, go around and do a quick inspection. Look for leaks and signs of leaks under your sinks, around toilets and anywhere else where water is flowing. This way, if there’s a problem, you can get it fixed before guests arrive.
- Cover Your Drains – It’s always good practice to cover your drains with strainers to catch debris. But, if you’ve not already, remember to do so as soon as possible, because more people in your home means more hair and debris going down your drains – and that means more potential for clogs and plumbing disasters. Don’t let clogged pipes ruin your holiday.
- Prepare for Clogs – The best offense is a good defense, so go ahead and prepare for drain problems just in case one pops up. Often, guests have a way of clogging up drains even when you take preventive measures simply because they don’t know your plumbing system like you do. So, prepare ahead, and have a plunger ready and on-hand.
- Put Out Extra Trash Cans – Speaking of preventing clogged drains, stay two steps ahead of any potential problem, and make sure that every room with a sink, toilet or shower has an available trash can. This way, guests won’t be as tempted to flush unwanted debris down your drains that might lead to clogs.
- Fix Running Toilets – More guests means more water usage. So, if you have a toilet that has been running, go ahead and change the toilet flapper (the plug-like device that sits at the bottom of your toilet tank). This will save you both time and money in the long-run.
- Clean Shower Heads – Speaking of saving, let’s not forget the value in saving resources. Clean your shower heads before guests arrive so that they have a clear flow of water. This may just help them take shorter showers, thus, preserving water usage, especially hot water, and your water bill.
Preparation is key to a stress-free holiday. So, simply take a few steps before your guests arrive to ensure your plumbing is working in top order.
A Few Final Holiday Plumbing Tips
You should also remind guests to throw all debris (and don’t forget about grease) away in trash bins – NOT your garbage disposal – in order to prevent clogs and other issues. You might also want to go ahead and locate your water shut-off valves in the event that something does go wrong. This way you can put a stopper on the situation quickly. The same goes for having plungers and tools ready, just in case. With a little preparation, it will be much easier to survive the holidays with your guests.
Of course, if you do run into trouble with your plumbing over the holidays, give us a call. We are proud to offer comprehensive service throughout Chicagoland every single day of the year!
