|
Guests, rich food and commotion often lead to clogged drains at holiday time, which can make it a busy time of the year for plumbers. At the very time when you need no drama in your kitchen, you don’t want to have to call in a professional to handle an emergency. You know the drill. At holiday time, when food preparation and cleanup is chaotic, someone pours grease down the drain or overloads the garbage disposal with table scraps. Guests flush paper towels, wipes and trash down the toilet. Before you know it, you have a clogged pipe or worse yet, a toilet overflows. Tips to Prevent Clogged Drains during the Holidays For best results at holiday time, plan ahead to prevent clogs and other plumbing problems. 1. Anticipate that you may have guests in your kitchen. Try to communicate clear directions about how to dispose of grease from the turkey and other table waste. 2. Pour cool grease or oil into a sealed container or a sturdy garbage bag, not down the sink! 3. Put holiday food that is stringy or tough, like celery or potato peels, into the garbage can or compost pile rather than in the garbage disposal. The same goes for eggshells. 4. Either dump table scraps directly into the garbage can or collect tidbits of food with the sink strainer. 5. If you choose to use it, run your garbage disposal in small loads to lessen the possibility of clogs. 6. To discourage toilet clogs that result from flushing the wrong items, make sure to keep a trashcan in each bathroom. If possible, provide a covered can with a liner so that guests who are disposing of sanitary products or other discreet items have an alternative. Anticipating and Preventing Plumbing Problems While you can prevent many plumbing problems over the holidays with proper disposal, some problems occur when grease and debris build up over time, tree roots clog the pipes or lines break or crack. These problems do not observe holidays and can happen at any time. Prior to the holiday, if you notice that your drains are working slowly, clear them with natural products such as baking soda and vinegar. After pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain, dump in a half cup of baking soda. After that sits for a few minutes, pour in a cup of vinegar mixed with a cup of hot water. Put the drain plug in place for five or 10 minutes as the mixture does its magic. After 10 minutes, flush one more time with a pot of boiling water. While plumbers disagree on whether you should use commercial drain cleaners to maintain your lines, the chemical reaction of the baking soda and the vinegar can help keep your drain open without harsh chemicals. But clearing slow drains with home remedies won't always work. For continual drain problems, you may need to call a plumber who can put a camera through your drain to locate the source of the clog. Call a Plumber before the Holiday Rush The best time to take preventive measures is before your home is packed with holiday visitors. Be prepared for emergencies with a small kitchen plunger, as well as a bathroom plunger, tucked away to be called into service when needed. Try to see if you can dislodge the blockage before you call a plumber. If all else fails, call in a professional who can help you in the case of clogged drains during a holiday.
Related Articles -
prevent clogged drains, clogged drains, plumbing problems, plumber, reputable plumber, reliable plumbing contractor, plumbing contractor,
| 
