5 Things to Do Before You Host the Holidays

If you’re hosting a holiday party, chances are that your to-do list is a mile long. Although we don’t want to add any more stress to your already busy day, we do want to help prevent a major party meltdown on your behalf. To ensure your plumbing is working at its top capacity, and that you’re not left calling us for help, here are 5 things you’ll need to add to your list to ensure smooth smoothing and plumbing problems free:

1. Give a Deep Clean

Now is the time to let your plumbing shine! If you have a guest staying over, then you’ll want them to have the best experience possible — and that starts with a comfortable bathroom experience. To start, give your fixtures a deep clean, followed by stocking up on toiletries — and don’t forget to scrub the tub and toilet, too.

2. Water Heater Check

After all the cooking, cleaning and entertaining, you’ll probably want to enjoy a nice, hot shower — and you’ll have to rely on your trusty water heater to do so. If you haven’t gotten your unit cleaned or serviced, now is a perfect time. However, if you have the temperature lowered, then you might want to increase it to accommodate all the extra dishwashing, showering, and other hot water activities.

3. Unclog Your Drains

Granted, your shower drains will see a ton of traffic — so to prevent any hair from causing a major clog, install hair traps before your guests arrive. If you have a slow draining tub, then you might want to get it snaked, prior to company arriving.

4. Give Your Disposal TLC

Now is the time to make sure that your disposal is clean and fully functioning, as well as all of the food prep that will put your disposal to good use. To prevent further issues, you’ll want to avoid letting your house guests use it unless they are fully aware of what can go down it. Trust us: you don’t want to spend Christmas day on the phone with your plumber because your aunt threw a turkey bone down the disposal.

5. Toilet Repairs

Nothing is more embarrassing than having a guest that clogs the toilet, asking you for assistance to help unclog it —  so why not prevent this potential situation from happening altogether? To avoid the need to ask, make sure you have a spare plunger on hand for guests. If you are constantly getting clogs, or there are any leaks, then you’ll want to get them fixed ASAP since it could be a sign of something more serious. 

Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy the company!

When you’re in need of a plumber that you can rely on for years to come, our family at Barker & Sons would like to be there for you!