Plumbing For The Holidays

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, families are preparing for Turkey day festitivies by prepping the kitchen, stocking the pantry and pulling out their flatware.  Yet, when preparing for the holdiays, little attention is paid to plumbing systems, which get hit especially hard this time of year.  Keep these tips in mind to avoid adding a plumbing emergency to your list of this year’s Thanksgiving memories.

• Drain Maintenance: While preparing your Thanksgiving meal, be careful to avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down your drain, as these items can congeal and create a clog.  To help avoid this, wipe all grease from your pots with a paper towel before placing them in the sink.

• Garbage Disposal: To avoid garbage disposal clogs, clear plates of any hard, stringy, or tough waste before placing them in the sink.  Common clog culprits to avoid include turkey skin, potato peels, carrots, and celery.  For additional garbage disposal tips, check out our previous post on garbage disposal maintenance.

• Shower Prep: If Thanksgiving is bringing extra house guests your way, consider a shower strategy in advance.  To help
  retain hot water, turn your water heater up slightly (but keep in mind the temperature must remain under 125 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding) and plan on spreading showers throughout the day if possible.

• Pressure Power: To help maximize water pressure through multiple uses, the night before guests arrive clean your shower head.  Pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place the bag over your shower head and secure overnight.  In the
  morning, remove the vinegar bag and gently scrub off any remaining mineral deposits.

While these tips will help keep you on track, if you do run into a plumbing catastrophe contact Nowthen Plumbing for emergency assistance.  And, from our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!