The holidays are quickly approaching, and if you’re like us, you’ve probably got a LOT on your to-do list. But between buying the turkey, baking those pies, and getting the guest room ready for out-of-town visitors, you’ll probably want to carve out some time to tackle a few preventative plumbing tasks to help you avoid potential disasters.
Here are a few areas that deserve your attention:
The Garbage Disposal
Those holiday meals tend to create a lot of leftovers but tempting as it might be to scrape all of those plates right into the garbage disposal, opt for the trash instead. Remnants like bones, fat, eggshells, grease, stringy foods and even pasta can cause clogs or serious damage to your drain. Bottom line, if you have any doubts, it’s always safer to put those scraps directly into the trash.
Drains
From backed-up sinks to showers that suddenly become baths, there is no worse time to deal with drains that won’t, well, drain, than when you have guests in for the holidays. Stay ahead of the clogs by always clearing hair out of your shower or tub after bathing, never pouring grease, coffee grounds or other foreign substances down the kitchen sink, and keeping a drain snake and a bottle of Drano on hand—just in case.
Toilets
More guests mean more toilet traffic, and there is nothing worse than having to deal with a clog after a holiday meal. Rule Number One for keeping your toilet in good flushing order is a simple one: Do. Not. Flush. Anything. Other. Than. Toilet. Paper. Common culprits of nasty clogs often include feminine hygiene products, cleansing wipes, cotton balls, cigarette butts and even paper towels. Whether you post a sign on the door or have a quick conversation with houseguests, just be sure they know what can’t be flushed.
If your toilet won’t stop running—or won’t flush at all—check the flapper or the float. Chances are that a simple adjustment will have you flushing again in no time.
Grease
Nothing wreaks havoc on a drain quite like leftover grease from a holiday cooking extravaganza. Hot grease in a pan might look innocent enough, but as it cools it becomes a beast that has the power to put your kitchen sink out of commission. If you pour hot grease down a drain, it will eventually cool or come into contact with cold water. Either way, it’ll harden and begin to trap other particles in its wake until it morphs into one big ball of sticky, clogged mess. Bottom line, pour your grease off into a jar, can or other vessel and throw it directly into the garbage once it cools.
The Faulstick Difference
At Faulstick Plumbing, we specialize in installs, repairs, and inspections for all of your well, water, and plumbing needs. Our family-owned and operated business has built a reputation as the best-doing things the right way with the customer in mind, every time. Give us a call at 570-992-0447 to discuss your needs today!
