Homes suffer a significant amount of stress during the holiday season. With friends and family visiting, and an increase in cooking, your drains and sewer lines could struggle to keep up with the activity. Clogged plumbing can cost homeowners a lot of time and money better spent on gifts and entertaining.
Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to protect your plumbing.
Contents
Never pour oil or grease down a drain
Baking, frying and roasting those beautiful holiday dinners can leave homeowners with an excess of cooking oils, but even small amounts of grease can cause serious plumbing issues .
The best disposal method is to place cooled fats and oils into a sealed container, such as an old coffee can, then put it in the trash. Grease should never, under any circumstances, be poured down a drain.
Use the garbage disposal correctly
Built-in garbage disposals are meant for scraps and food pieces that are rinsed from dishes. The disposal “chews” the food into tiny pieces that will rinse down the drain rather than causing a blockage.
Gummy, sticky substances, such as stuffing, pumpkin pie and onions, should never be put into the disposal, nor should left overs, anything containing bones or whole pieces of food. Anything larger than bite-size should be disposed of in the trash.
Maintain your garbage disposal by cleaning it with ice
Turn the disposal on, then pour ice into it. Chopping the ice can help sharpen the blades and dislodge anything stuck in the disposal. Remember that the disposal should always be turned on before putting anything in it.
Don't flush anything but toilet paper
Remind guests that they should never flush paper towels, sanitary napkins or wipes. Even wet wipes that are labeled “flushable” can wreak havoc on sewer lines. Keep wastebaskets available in all restrooms so that guests have access.
Clean your pipes
- Cost of a Plumber to Snake a Drain in 2022 in Nevada
- How to Snake a Drain
- What You Should and Should Not Pour Down The Drain
- Are Stinky Sewer Smells Wafting Out of Your Drains?
- How To Remove Bad Smell From Garbage Disposal - March 16, 2024
- Best Toilets For Small Bathrooms - March 14, 2024
- Is Mold in Window AC Unit Dangerous? - March 7, 2024