The holiday season is a wonderful time for everyone. You get to reconnect with loved ones that you may not see too much throughout the year and enjoy delicious food. The downside to bringing a number of people into your home is that they are sure to put a strain on your facilities that your plumbing isn’t used to.
So if you have been searching for a “clogged drain plumber near me“, this blog post is perfect for you as we will be discussing important things to be aware of when it comes to drains.
Let’s get started.
Before Guests Arrive
This is your window to catch problems while they’re still cheap and easy to fix — not while the house is full of family.
Check your drainage system’s age. If your house was built many years ago, there is probably a nice charm that comes from an older home, but there are some negatives. One of these is that your drainage system may not be up to date. Homeowners who purchase older homes are often quick to update the outside of the home, but the skeleton of the house is neglected. Old plumbing is extremely problematic. To avoid high costs, staying on top of your drainage system is a must. Hire a plumber to have a look, and he will easily recognize outdated plumbing pipes made of lead, galvanized pipe, and polybutylene, among other signs of age.
Inspect for failing sewer lines. Since sewer lines are buried and out of sight, they are almost never thought about by homeowners until something goes wrong. Foul-smelling wastewater is often the first sign, with seeping sewage into the ground being the second. Older sewer lines were put into place before modern household items like garbage disposals and dishwashers, so they’re dealing with more water than they were built to handle. Sewer lines are more susceptible to failure when homeowners undergo extensive remodeling, and older homes are more at risk for sewer line damage from tree roots or the lines naturally shifting places.
Have your water heater checked. While not directly a drainage problem, old water heaters can be frustrating when they aren’t able to maintain hot showers. This is especially problematic during the holiday season, when you have friends and family staying at your home and lots of showers being taken. It’s important to have a plumber see if your older water heater can simply be enhanced or if a new one will be necessary. When compared to gas water heaters, electric water heaters have lower upfront costs, offer a more efficient use of energy, and are safer to operate — worth considering if a replacement is due.
During Cooking
This is when kitchen drains take the biggest hit of the whole holiday season.
As you are preparing wonderful food for your family, especially during the holidays, your drains often see an increase in food going through the pipes. This creates clogs. Even when using a garbage disposal, clogs are still going to happen where there is an excessive amount of blockage going through the pipes. If there are signs of drain issues throughout the year, they usually only get worse during the holiday season.
Watch the grease. Grease and oil can also cause drain blockages. Grease creates sticky sediment that traps food over a long period of time and is particularly challenging to remove. Garbage disposals have no impact on dissolving grease. The best thing you can do with your grease is to pour it into a can or scrape it into the garbage. If you accidentally do put grease, fat, or oil into your drain, be sure to run lots of cold water over it, which helps to chop everything up, but isn’t a perfect method.
Keep these other common culprits out of the sink and disposal:
- Hair
- Small objects
- Coffee grounds
- Cat litter
- Paper towels
- Eggshells
For more on which foods cause the worst buildup and why, see our holiday cooking guide (link the post about holiday cooking/food waste here).
After the Holiday
Once the guests have gone home, it’s worth taking stock before the next gathering sneaks up on you.
The holiday season brings out drainage issues that were quietly building all year — and once guests leave, that’s the best time to have your system checked before the damage from extra strain shows up as a bigger repair. Having your drains fixed and ready for use is a respectful and polite thing to do for your guests, and staying ahead of it means you won’t be caught off guard next time. It’s a really awkward situation when sinks and especially toilets get clogged, or your shower water is too cold.
So next time you search for “clogged drain service near me” or “local plumbers near me“, think of Rooter-Man plumbers.
Contact us today to see how we can help with your drains.
