The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year when family and friends come to your home, whether it’s for a short time or an extended stay. As fantastic as the company is, it can also put a strain on your plumbing system, potentially leading to issues ranging from clogs to leaks to overflowing toilets. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to maintain your plumbing before the holidays to help prevent problems from putting a damper on the festivities.
Don’t Switch Up Your Toilet Paper
Many people don’t realize how toilet paper can significantly impact their plumbing system. Some plumbing systems, especially if they’re older, can have trouble handling certain types of toilet paper, resulting in problems like overflowing toilets.
If you haven’t had any issues with your current brand and type of toilet paper, avoid switching it up before the holidays. For example, if you’re thinking of changing it to a thicker variety for when guests come, know that the thicker the toilet paper is, the longer it will take to dissolve. Thinner toilet paper dissolves more quickly, which puts less of a strain on your plumbing.
Get a Full Plumbing Inspection
It’s typically recommended to get a plumbing inspection every couple of years, but it can’t hurt to get a full inspection before the holiday season to ensure everything is in working order. Our plumbers can check various areas, including your water heater, garbage disposal, toilets, sinks, etc.
Doing so will give them a comprehensive outlook of your system so they can inform you of its condition before the extra strain of the holiday season takes its toll. Call for a plumbing inspection appointment before the start of the holiday season so you can get it taken care of, get the plumbing appointment you want, and make any necessary repairs before your guests arrive.
Take Action Before the Holidays
If you already know of the plumbing issues that you need to take care of, such as a leak in your sink, call a plumber for a repair before the holidays, if possible. The extra strain on your system could quickly worsen the problems enough to take them from relatively minor issues into full-blown disasters. This can include sewage backing up all over your bathroom or your water heater giving out when there’s a blizzard on the way. When you get all the repairs done and over with before the holidays, you will have peace of mind that your plumbing system will work as well as possible.
Have a Plunger Easily Accessible for Guests
Many people have been in the unfortunate situation where they were a guest at someone’s house, used the bathroom, and tried to flush the toilet. The panic sets in as the water rises toward the top of the bowl instead of going down. The panic gets even worse at the realization that there is no plunger.
Avoid putting your guests in that situation this holiday season. Keep a plunger next to the toilet in every bathroom of your home in case of emergencies. Not only can it help prevent guest embarrassment, but it also prevents a flood from going all over your bathroom.
Know Who You’re Calling if There’s an Emergency
Not every homeowner has a plumber they can call in case of emergencies. You might be new to the area and have been lucky enough to have had any problematic plumbing situations. Instead of choosing a random plumber, take your time to choose the best one. If you want to ensure you select the right professional who can accommodate your plumbing needs and offer services within your budget, it’s time to do your research.
Start the process before the holiday season and find a plumber you can count on in case you need to call them quickly. Choose someone local with comprehensive services and the proper licensing, experience, and credentialing, like Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter. One of the most important things you can do is read online reviews from past and current plumbing clients on multiple sites. These reviews can give you a great idea about whether the plumber has excellent plumbing and customer service skills.
Know How to Operate Your Upgraded Items
Are you one of the many homeowners planning to upgrade certain items around your home before the holidays, such as a garbage disposal or water heater? If so, make sure you fully know how to use and care for them and what to do if something goes wrong. This can save you significant time and hassle while helping to prevent multiple problems.
Get Appliances in Advance
Avoid upgrading your appliances immediately before you plan on having guests over. Even new items right out of the box could potentially malfunction. You don’t want to deal with this when you know people are on their way. It’s a stressful situation whether they’re due in a few days or a few hours. The best thing you can do is get your new appliances at least a couple of weeks before there will be guests in your home so you can use the items a few times and make sure they work correctly.
Protect Your Drains
If your drain covers aren’t doing a good enough job of preventing hair and other debris from going down the drain, it’s time to change them out. This is something super simple; you can do it on your own, or you can ask a plumber for suggestions. A variety of options are available for less than $15 that you can find at many stores. Another option for a walk-in shower with a floor drain is to use a removable drain cover that will help block hair and other debris, and it’s an excellent option for renters who want a temporary fix.
Pay Attention to Strange Sounds and Smells
One of the most important things you can do for your plumbing during the holiday season is to pay attention to anything that doesn’t sound or smell right. For example, call the plumber immediately if you notice an odd odor coming from your bathroom drain or hear a banging sound from the kitchen pipes. Our plumbers can determine the problem and advise you about what to do next. The sooner you schedule an appointment, the better. The holiday season is a busy time for plumbers, and calling quickly to schedule an appointment can get a plumber out to your home as fast as possible before it becomes an emergency.
Keeping up with plumbing maintenance is the best way to prevent more serious issues during the holiday season. Call Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter in San Jose, CA to start the process with a full plumbing inspection. We also offer other plumbing services, including drain cleaning, hydrojetting, drain repair, water heater replacements, and garbage disposal replacement. Our family-owned company operates every day of the year, offering standard appointments and fast emergency responses.
