With Halloween behind us, the winter holidays are fast approaching and that means get-togethers with friends and family. If you’re planning on hosting a holiday party, follow these easy tips from our plumbing experts to avoid clogging up your pipes:
Grease Congeals
Holiday parties call for lots of food and if you’re going to be cooking with grease, remember that fatty liquids like these congeal. That means if you pour them down your drain, they could easily solidify and clog up your pipes. Instead, pour your leftover grease into a can and save it for future cooking.
Only Flush Normal Things
While you may know that waste and toilet paper are the only things that should be flushed down your toilets, your guests may not. If you plan on entertaining, leave a note in each bathroom reminding guests to throw things like baby wipes or hygienic products in the trash instead of flushing them.
Your Disposal Isn’t Invincible
Garbage disposals seem to get rid of food like magic, but that doesn’t mean you should depend on it to eliminate large scraps. To prevent your disposal from clogging or jamming, stick to feeding it small pieces of food. Also, remember to run the water while you turn it on to help the scraps flow down the drain.
Keep Your Pipes Warm
If you plan on taking a long trip to visit friends or family over the holidays, make sure you prevent your pipes from freezing. Keep your thermostat low, but warm and open your cabinet doors to improve heat circulation throughout your home. If you’re still worried about your pipes freezing, you can also turn on your faucet to a very slow drip in order to eliminate pressure buildup.
If you do experience a plumbing problem, don’t hesitate to call our plumbing experts. We’ll have your clog or back-up fixed in no time so you can continue to enjoy the holidays.