How to Prepare Your Plumbing for the Holidays
The holidays are here and there is so much to do! Whether you’re planning on hosting close family or friends or leaving town for a bit, preparing your plumbing for the holiday season is essential. The last thing you want is to experience a plumbing nightmare while participating in festivities or coming home to a flooded home. Check out some of Stephen’s tips for ensuring your plumbing holiday is ready below!
Check Water Heater Temperature
With kids coming home for the holidays or guests visiting from out of town, the house can get a little crowded. More people means more showers and water used. When it comes time for you to hop in the shower, don’t settle for cold temperatures. Go to your water heater and adjust the temperature to 120 degrees so that all may enjoy hot water. Additionally, it may be a good idea to stagger showers throughout the day and night.
Clean Your Garbage Disposal
Many enjoy home-cooked and specialty meals during the holidays that require a great deal of preparation. Kitchen sinks are commonly used during prep and for cleaning when everyone has finished eating. It is important to make sure your garbage disposal is clean and able to handle the waste that may be put down it. To clean your garbage disposal, pour a ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into the disposal. After letting the solution sit for a few minutes, turn on your hot water. To get rid of any foul odors, you can also grind up citrus peels while also running cold water. During the holidays, it is important to remind guests what can go down the disposal as well as what can’t. Learn what should never go down your disposal here!
Shut Off Water Supply
If you’re planning on leaving town for the holidays, it is wise to turn off your water supply. Why may you ask? If a pipe bursts while you are gone or another plumbing issue arises, your home can flood and the damage can be very costly and devastating.
Invest in Drain Strainers
There’s no better time than the holidays to invest in drain strainers! Drain strainers are used to prevent waste from entering your pipes and clogging them. We recommend placing these in kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, and showers.
Be Mindful of Toilet Paper Use
May love be overflowing in your home during the holiday season and not your toilet. It is important to be mindful of the potential of people using too much toilet paper. Purchase toilet paper that is clog-safe and dissolves easily.
Prepare Your Plumbing for the Holidays With Maintenance Services from Stephens
If you need assistance with preparing your plumbing for the holidays, we would be more than happy to lend a helping hand! We have been providing homeowners and local businesses with quality residential plumbing services since 1986. Our team wants you to enjoy the holidays with the ones who mean the most, without the stress of dealing with plumbing issues. At Stephens, we are committed to preventative work that saves you time and money and we can also be there when immediate attention is required. To schedule an appointment for maintenance or one of our other services, contact us today!