While there are simple plumbing repairs that can be DIY projects, it is always helpful to get tips from the pros. Not only do the pros have training, but they also have experience which goes a long way regarding plumbing repairs. During the holidays, you often have more people in your home, and that can lead to plumbing issues. Sun Plumbing is here to offer helpful holiday plumbing tips from our pros to help get you through the holiday season!
Less people using your bathrooms makes it less likely you will have plumbing clogs. Make all your bathrooms available to guests. It gives you a good excuse for decorating your bathrooms! Use your garbage disposal wisely, only using it for things that won’t clog it or damage the blades. Use your dishwasher to save on water and spend time with family instead of washing dishes.
In this article, we will look at 3 different ways to keep your plumbing happy during the holidays and recommend tools to have on hand in case a plumbing situation arises. Take a look at our recommendations so you can be as prepared as possible.
#1 Less People Equals Less Problems
“Less people equals less problems” sounds more like something the Grinch would say as opposed to a holiday state of mind! But, we at Sun Plumbing, love the holidays! We are not telling you to invite less people over! However, having more bathrooms available to those people may cut down on plumbing issues. For example, you may only have a 2-bathroom house which is very typical. In the past, you probably only made the guest bathroom available to people. While it may seem a little unusual to open your Master bathroom to guests, it is a good way to avoid overuse of one toilet.
Too much toilet paper down the toilet is a very typical problem during the holidays. Whether a toddler decides to flush half a roll or a relative has an upset tummy, toilet clogs are a common occurrence during the holidays. A small clog can be cleared with a plunger. We do not recommend using chemicals of any kind as those can damage your pipes. If the plunger isn’t doing the trick, then it’s time to call the professionals at Sun Plumbing. To summarize, don’t invite less loved ones over for the holidays! Make more toilets available to those loved ones. And another tip, make sure parents supervise toddlers in the bathroom!
#2 Use Your Garbage Disposal Wisely
You have probably experienced garbage disposal issues at some point. Peelings, such as carrots and potatoes can cause problems. Egg shells and clumps of pasta or rice are also not garbage disposal-safe. To learn more about the proper use of your garbage disposal, read more in our previous blog, “What Not To Put Down Your Garbage Disposal.” There are a couple of reasons that garbage disposal mishaps happen more during the holidays. First, you are preparing more food than usual. Second, there are more people in your kitchen preparing food. You may be very diligent about what does and doesn’t go down your disposal, but it is hard to keep track of what a dozen other people are doing in your kitchen!
#3 Use The Dishwasher
There is no reason to spend hours standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes while your family and friends relax, watch movies, and play games. You need to be a part of that! You might think that plumbers would recommend handwashing your dishes, but there is no reason not to use your dishwasher!
Dishwashers are actually eco-friendly which is why so many of them receive the Energy Star rating. Your dishwasher uses less water than you use when handwashing the dishes. Dishwashers also sanitize dishes which is beneficial for minimizing germs in your home. If you don’t have a dishwasher, one of our plumbers can install one for you. You may lose a cabinet in the process, but it can be well worth it. Now you can spend your time with family and let your dishwasher do the work.
What To Do When You Have Holiday Plumbing Problems
Having plumbing issues with a house full of people can be nerve-wracking. There are a couple of things you can do to address plumbing problems when the plumber isn’t available. We recommend keeping basic plumbing tools on hand. Have a good plunger that creates a seal when plunging. Have a tool on hand to remove hair from drains. If you have relatives staying with you for the holidays, you may get a hair clog in the bathtub/shower. Keep Sun Plumbing’s phone number handy in case you develop a plumbing issue that requires a professional!
Summary
Plumbing problems during the holidays are a hassle, but don’t panic. Sun Plumbing, located in Melbourne, FL is here for you! We recommend allowing guests to use all your bathrooms to cut down on the chances of a toilet clog. We recommend using your garbage disposal as wisely as possible, although we understand accidents happen and you can’t watch everyone all the time. We say “yes” to using your dishwasher which actually saves on water and sanitizes to minimize germs.
We also recommend that you keep basic plumbing utensils on hand, such as a quality plunger that seals well when plunging and a hair remover for drains. And, of course, we recommend keeping our phone number handy for those plumbing issues that require our expertise! Sun Plumbing hopes you have a holiday season free of plumbing problems, but remember we are here if you need us!
