Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, feasts, and festivities. But all the cooking and entertaining can seriously strain your home’s plumbing system. With more people in the kitchen and increased water usage, plumbing issues like clogged drains, overflowing toilets, and kitchen disasters are more likely to happen. Luckily, with a few simple plumbing tips, you can prevent plumbing problems and enjoy your holiday without the stress of plumbing emergencies.
Here are some essential Thanksgiving plumbing tips to keep your pipes in good working order during the holiday season.
1. Avoid Pouring Grease Down the Drain
One of the most common causes of clogged drains during Thanksgiving is the disposal of grease, fats, and oils down the kitchen sink. While it may seem like a convenient way to get rid of cooking byproducts, pouring grease down the drain can lead to serious clogs in your pipes. Over time, the grease hardens and combines with food particles, creating blockages that are difficult to remove.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of grease and oil in a container and let it cool and solidify. Once solidified, toss it in the trash. If you accidentally pour grease down the drain, run hot water to help prevent it from solidifying inside the pipes, but this won’t fix a major buildup. If you already have grease buildup in your pipes, contact a plumber for professional drain cleaning.
2. Watch What Goes Down the Garbage Disposal
After a big Thanksgiving meal, your garbage disposal will likely get a workout. While the disposal is an excellent tool for grinding up small food scraps, it’s not designed to handle everything. Avoid putting large or hard-to-grind items such as potato peels, turkey carcasses, bones, or fibrous vegetables (like celery or corn husks) into the disposal.
What to Do Instead:
Scrape your plates into the trash before rinsing them off, and be mindful of what you feed into the disposal. For smoother operation, grind up small pieces of soft food scraps and always run cold water while using the disposal to keep the blades sharp and the system running smoothly.
3. Keep Your Drains Clean with a Natural Cleaner
It’s easy to forget about drain maintenance during the busy holiday season, but it’s a good idea to give your kitchen sinks a quick cleaning before the big feast. Food particles can accumulate in the drains, leading to slow drainage and potential clogs. While commercial drain cleaners are often tempting, they contain harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes over time.
What to Do Instead:
Use a natural cleaner like baking soda and vinegar to clear out buildup in your kitchen drains. Simply pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and then flush it with hot water. This method can help remove minor buildups and keep the drains flowing smoothly.
4. Be Careful with the Toilet
Thanksgiving guests can lead to overuse of the bathroom, which can put extra strain on the plumbing system. Avoid toilet clogs by making sure everyone is mindful of what gets flushed. In addition to toilet paper, other items such as wipes, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products should never be flushed down the toilet, as they can cause major blockages in the pipes.
What to Do Instead:
Place a small trash can in the bathroom to encourage guests to dispose of anything that isn’t toilet paper. If you do experience a minor clog, use a plunger to gently remove it. If the clog persists, contact a plumber to avoid causing further damage to the toilet or drain system.
5. Check for Leaks and Fix Them Before the Holiday Rush
Before the guests arrive, check your plumbing for any leaks around the kitchen and bathroom. A small leak might seem insignificant, but when multiple people are using the plumbing system, a leak can turn into a bigger issue.
What to Do Instead:
Inspect the faucets, toilet tanks, and pipes under sinks for signs of leakage. If you notice any leaks, either tighten the connections yourself or call a plumber to address the issue before it worsens.
6. Ensure Your Water Heater is Ready for Extra Demand
With a full house for Thanksgiving, your water heater will have to work overtime to provide hot water for cooking, cleaning, and showers. A malfunctioning or underperforming water heater can lead to cold showers or dishes that won’t get cleaned properly.
What to Do Instead:
Before Thanksgiving, make sure your water heater is in good working order by flushing out any sediment buildup and checking the temperature setting (120°F is recommended). If your water heater is struggling or over 10 years old, consider scheduling a maintenance check to ensure it’s ready to meet your family’s needs.
Enjoy a Stress-Free Thanksgiving With These Plumbing Tips
Thanksgiving should be a time to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, not deal with plumbing problems. Following these Thanksgiving plumbing tips, you can prevent common issues like clogged drains, overflowing toilets, and water heater failures. Remember to keep grease out of your pipes, be mindful of what goes down the garbage disposal, and regularly maintain your plumbing system to ensure a stress-free holiday.
For plumbing help before or after the Thanksgiving holiday, call Top Tier Plumbing and Rooter at (951) 475-6521. Our expert technicians are here to help with drain cleaning, water heater repairs, and any plumbing issues that may arise.