During the holidays, your plumbing might get a lot more use than it usually does. This is because families tend to be home more often or may even have additional people over to celebrate the holidays. Unfortunately, this can come with some plumbing issues. Here are the top three holiday plumbing issues and how to avoid them.
1. Clogged Drain
There are a number of reasons why you may experience clogged drains during the holidays. If you’ve gotten into the habit of pouring grease down your drain, it can cause a huge clog. You also have to be careful about rinsing greasy dishes off. You should use a paper towel to wipe off as much grease as possible before washing your dishes.
You also have to be careful about what you put down your garbage disposal. If you think that you can just dispose of whatever you want in it, you may be surprised to find that there are some foods that should never be disposed of this way. These foods include bones, peels, eggshells, and celery.
2. Overflowing Toilet
One of the most annoying plumbing issues to have this holiday season is an overflowing toilet. This usually happens because someone flushed things down the toilet that they weren’t supposed to. Prohibited items include napkins, feminine hygiene products, tissues, and baby wipes. Unfortunately, these items can’t be broken down like toilet paper can.
If you are worried about your holiday guests flushing these types of items, place a sign in the bathroom that states what they can and cannot flush. It’s also a good idea to have a trash can nearby so that they aren’t tempted to flush certain items simply because they don’t have another way to dispose of them. Some clogs you may be able to dislodge yourself with a plunger. For other clogs, you will need the assistance of a plumber.
3. Malfunctioning Water Heater
When the weather starts to cool down, you probably don’t want to step into a cold shower first thing in the morning. If your water heater starts to malfunction, it won’t be able to produce enough hot water to meet the needs of your household. Many hot water heaters fail because of their age. You can avoid the inconvenience of this happening by upgrading your hot water heater this holiday season. Most water heaters don’t last more than 10 years. If your water heater is more than eight or nine years old, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and get it replaced.
If you experience any plumbing issues this holiday season in Yuma, AZ, PHD Plumbing can help. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.