Thanksgiving is a day to spend quality time with loved ones, indulge in mouthwatering food and create unforgettable memories. However, with all of the extra cooking and guests, your home’s plumbing system endures much more stress than usual. Under these conditions, emergency plumbing issues can quickly arise, turning your holiday into a stressful and costly nightmare. Proper preparation and best practices will help you avoid holiday disasters and ensure your plumbing is running smoothly.
As experienced plumbers, we’ve seen just how badly plumbing emergencies can disrupt your holiday season. This year, don’t let a plumbing disaster wreak havoc on your festivities. Here are some things to keep in mind to ensure your home and loved ones are protected:
Don’t Throw Your Thanksgiving Dinner Down the Drain
For many of us, preparing for the Holidays means preparing extra food for extra family. It’s no secret that many of our favorite, classic Thanksgiving dishes tend to be higher-fat foods. Think rich, creamy gravy and a beautiful deep fried turkey. Although these dishes are delicious, the problems arise when these leftover fats, oils and grease, also known as FOG, are improperly disposed of. When washed down the drain, the fats and oils can create sewer backups across utility systems that can cause major problems with clogging pipes — more specifically, the sewer pipes underneath your home. This could require costly repairs.
To prevent this, it’s best to avoid putting foods like these down your garbage disposal:
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Turkey / ham bone fragments
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Corn husks
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Fats, grease and oils
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Potato skins
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Eggshells
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Fruit pits
Additionally, you want to avoid overstuffing your garbage disposal, this can cause it to jam, clog or even ruin the motor.
More Family, More Flushes
More company means your bathrooms will be used much more frequently. Because of this, the second most common Thanksgiving-related plumbing issue is blocked or backed-up sewer lines. Here’s how to maintain clog-free drains:
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Avoid Flushing Non-Flushable Items Down the Toilet
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Things Not To Flush: Wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels do not dissolve easily and could lead to major clogs in your bathroom plumbing.
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Provide Guest-Friendly Bathrooms
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Ensure You Have Wastebaskets Available in the Bathroom: Having a trash can accessible from your toilet encourages guests to dispose of non-flushable items properly and conveniently.
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Pre-Holiday Checks
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Test for Slow Drains: Check all bathroom sinks, showers, and toilets for slow draining before your guests arrive. Address any issues ahead of time to prevent backups before the Holidays hit.
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Use Natural Cleaners or Basic Tools: If there is a minor clog, begin by using natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar, or basic household items like a plunger.
So, to prevent backed-up sewer lines this year, avoid putting anything other than human waste down the toilet. You may also consider asking your guests to refrain from putting down food, drinks, sanitary napkins, feminine hygiene products, bones, paper towels or napkins down the bathroom toilet or sink.
Don’t Let Your Plumbing Pay the Price
This holiday season, don’t let your plumbing pay the price! Call experienced, local plumbers today at (678) 400-5064. Garrett Mechanical is available 24/7 for all your emergency plumbing needs. Don’t forget to check out our exclusive Black Friday plumbing specials.
