The holiday season should be a time for gathering with your friends and family. The last thing you want is to experience a plumbing disaster in your Glendale, AZ home while hosting or getting ready for an event. This article takes a look at some of the ways you can prevent holiday plumbing disasters.
Be Careful of What Goes Down Drains
It’s likely that you’re very busy leading up to the holidays. As you clean your home and prepare food for your guests, there are a lot of items that have the potential to go down your drains and cause problems. For example, fats, oils, and greases should be disposed of in the trash. Otherwise, you’ll develop a buildup in your pipes that can cause a clog. Wipe out pans before you wash them to minimize the amount of fats, grease, and oils that go down your drain.
A garbage disposal in your kitchen sink can be convenient. However, some homeowners use them incorrectly, especially when stressed out getting food ready for a holiday meal. Overloading the disposal with large quantities of food scraps or trying to grind items like bones, egg shells, or fibrous vegetables can lead to clogs and damage. This misuse often results in costly repairs or even the need for a complete replacement. It’s important to know what can and can’t go down the disposal and to run cold water while using it to help flush debris safely through your plumbing system.
In bathrooms, clogs in sinks and showers are usually caused by hair buildup and residues from personal hygiene products like toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. Drain covers, typically made of metal or plastic, sit over the drain to catch hair and debris before they enter the pipes. These covers are easy to install and come in a variety of styles to fit different drain sizes. By trapping the material that commonly causes clogs, they significantly reduce the likelihood of drainage issues. It’s much easier to clean drain covers than it is to deal with an emergency clog in the middle of your holiday festivities.
When preparing your bathroom for guests, it’s essential to ensure your toilet is in proper working order. Start by checking for any signs of slow flushing or water leaks around the base. Contacting a professional plumber to address these issues before guests arrive can prevent embarrassing problems during gatherings. Additionally, it’s helpful to remind everyone about what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. Only flush human waste and toilet paper; flushing items like wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, or feminine hygiene products can block your plumbing and cause your toilet to overflow. Providing a trash bin near the toilet makes it easier for guests to dispose of non-flushable items properly, reducing the risk of blockages.
Be Aware of Your Water Use
Most homes in the Glendale area will use a lot of water during the holidays. This increase is because your home has more activity than usual, such as cooking, cleaning, and hosting guests. You may also have family members returning from college for their holiday break, adding to the burden on your plumbing system.
Consider updating some of your plumbing fixtures as part of your holiday preparations. Installing water-efficient fixtures like low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets can significantly reduce the strain on your system while conserving water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), WaterSense-labeled fixtures use at least 20% less water than standard products without sacrificing performance.
For instance, WaterSense toilets can save up to 13,000 gallons per year for a family of four. Similarly, water-efficient showerheads are designed to reduce water use by 20 to 30%. In addition, these showerheads help improve water pressure by optimizing flow, ensuring your guests get an enjoyable shower while saving water. In the kitchen, modern faucets can cut water usage by up to 30% while delivering the intense water pressure needed for washing dishes.
By upgrading more efficient fixtures, you improve water pressure and prevent leaks or clogs caused by aging parts. These updates ensure your plumbing system can handle the increased demand during the holidays while reducing water waste and your utility bills.
Service Your Water Heater
As part of routine plumbing maintenance before the holidays, it’s essential to have your water heater serviced by a professional. A technician will thoroughly inspect its components, looking for any signs of damage or wear. This includes examining the tank, checking the heating elements, and inspecting the connections to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
One critical part of the inspection is the anode rod, which plays a crucial role in preventing corrosion inside the tank. The rod attracts sediment and minerals, which would otherwise cause damage to the tank. Over time, the rod itself deteriorates and needs to be replaced. A professional will assess the condition of the anode rod and install a new one if necessary to protect the tank.
Additionally, the technician will flush the tank to remove sediment buildup and mineral deposits. This process improves the efficiency of the water heater and reduces the risk of failure, ensuring you have plenty of hot water available for guests. Reliable access to hot water is vital not only for showering and bathing but also for running the dishwasher, washing clothes, and performing other daily tasks that become more frequent when guests arrive.
Don’t Procrastinate
With the busy holiday season approaching, it’s easy to overlook plumbing issues. However, ignoring these problems can lead to plumbing disasters. Homeowners should be vigilant for signs of trouble, such as foul odors from drains, leaky faucets, water pooling around pipes or in the yard.
Prompt attention to these issues is crucial. If any of these symptoms arise, it’s essential to contact a professional immediately. Taking swift action ensures that problems are addressed quickly, allowing you to enjoy a worry-free holiday season. Reach out to our team at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical to resolve any plumbing concerns quickly so that you can focus on celebrating and making the most of the festivities.
The Importance of Routine Maintenance
Scheduling an annual plumbing inspection and routine maintenance is essential for keeping your plumbing system in top condition. The period before the holidays is an ideal time for this checkup, ensuring that your system is ready for increased activity and potential stress.
During the inspection, a plumber will thoroughly examine your plumbing for any signs of damage, leaks, corrosion, or mineral buildup. In addition to this comprehensive review, they may recommend drain cleaning. Technicians use specialized tools like hydro-jetters to clear clogs and buildup during this service. This method not only helps prevent future blockages but also improves overall drainage efficiency and extends the lifespan of your pipes.
Contact the Professionals
At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical, we have served the residents of Glendale, AZ and the surrounding areas since 1976. In addition to providing plumbing services, we install, repair, and maintain heating and cooling systems. We can also help with all your electrical needs, including installing EV charging stations, replacing old wiring, and updating electrical panels. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members.
