How to Prevent Plumbing Problems During the Holidays
The holiday season is here! Although your kids are grumbling about having to see Great Aunt Gia, you’re excited to be hosting the family this year. Your home is decorated perfectly, and you can already imagine how the turkey will look in the center of your table, surrounded by mashed potatoes, cranberries, and all other sides.
You like to think that you are totally prepared and ready to de-escalate any family squabbles. The only thing you’re worried about is a repeat performance of last year when your sister hosted. One overflowing sink and the pumpkin pies on the counter were ruined, and Great Aunt Gia narrowly avoided slipping and requiring another hip replacement.
How can you prevent an overflowing sink or any other plumbing problem this holiday season?
Schedule a Drain Line Inspection
Some of the biggest plumbing issues around the holidays are drain-related. Often, there is an existing problem that has managed to stay undetected until the strain of extra cooking and hosting brings the issue to light.
If your drains are already a little cloggy, any accidentally drained grease or heavy use from extra people can push your plumbing over the edge. The last thing you need during your holiday party is a big mess caused by a drain blockage.
A sneaky yet pervasive underlying problem here in California is tree roots blocking your pipes. To put it simply, tree roots seek out water. When water flows through your pipes, it emits a low-level electrical current that the roots grow toward. Wild, huh?
Tree roots can crush or break your pipes, leading to leaks and obstacles that reduce your system’s drain capacity. And you might not notice until you have thirteen people drinking water, using the restroom, and washing their hands in a single day instead of just your family.
A video camera inspection can take away the worry of compromised pipes before Thanksgiving dinner turns into a water park surprise. This non-invasive service uses a fiber optic cable with an attached camera to search your sewer and drain pipes. It can accurately find leaks or obstructions so you can complete any necessary repairs.
Or take advantage of preventive hydro-jet drain cleaning so all your drains and pipes are sparkling clean for the holidays.
Remember Garbage Disposal Safety
Another important piece of your kitchen that might need your attention is your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals make food preparation and cooking more convenient, especially when you’re cooking for over a dozen hungry people.
In the chaos of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, remember to throw safe food waste into the garbage disposal and everything else into the trash.
You CAN throw soft foods, citrus peels, or ice cubes into the disposal.
You should NOT throw any grease, fat, bones, fibrous or stringy vegetables, bones, or starchy foods into your garbage disposal.
You should also make sure all non-food trash stays away from the disposal and only goes into the trash can.
Know Where Your Main Water Shut-off Valve Is
And if the worst should happen, and your pipes start leaking, or water starts flowing when it shouldn’t, you should know where your main water shut-off valve is to turn off your water before a flood.
You can stay one step ahead with an automatic shut-off valve. This device is installed onto your main water line and monitors your home’s plumbing system. If there is a leak, even as small as a dime, the shut-off device turns your water off for you.
You can also check the status of your system through an app on your phone. You already have enough to worry about during the holidays. This is one thing you can take off your plate…and add room for an extra slice of pumpkin pie.
Stay Happy and Safe this Holiday Season with Barker and Sons
We’re happy to help you with any inspections beforehand to make sure your plumbing system is clean and ready to handle the additional use for the entire family.
And if an emergency occurs, we’ll have technicians on standby to get you out of a watery mess before the dinner becomes a pool party. Reach out to us to schedule your inspection today.
