South Carolina winters may not bring blizzards, but you can experience some unexpected plumbing problems. As the holidays approach, increased kitchen activity and colder weather can put your pipes to the test. Clogged drains and frozen pipes are the last thing you want to deal with during a holiday celebration. Preparing your plumbing for the season is essential to keeping your house functioning efficiently.
At Tuck & Howell, Inc. in Greenville, SC, we understand the importance of proactive maintenance to avoid winter plumbing woes. Let’s dive into our essential holiday plumbing tips to prevent clogs and protect your home.
Dispose of Grease Properly
Grease is like the sneaky villain of winter plumbing problems—easy to ignore but always ready to cause chaos when you least expect it. After cooking meals, there are usually greasy pans to clean. It might seem convenient to rinse these down the sink, but grease is one of the worst things you can put into your plumbing. As grease cools, it hardens and adheres to the walls of your pipes, restricting the flow and ultimately producing blockages.
Instead of rinsing grease away, pour it into a heat-resistant container and let it cool. Once it’s solid, toss it in the trash. If you’re dealing with small quantities, wiping pans with a paper towel before washing them might help keep grease from entering your pipes. Make this a habit, and it will save your plumbing system from unnecessary strain and help you avoid the frustration of slow-draining sinks during your holiday festivities.
Scrape Plates Before Washing
When you’re in the middle of holiday meal cleanup, rushing through the pile of dirty dishes is tempting. But neglecting to scrape your plates can be trouble for your plumbing. Food particles, especially starchy or fibrous ones like potato peels or vegetable scraps, can build up in your pipes and lead to blockages.
Before rinsing dishes or loading them into the dishwasher, take a moment to scrape off leftover food into the trash or compost. While garbage disposals can handle small scraps, overloading them with harsh or excessive material increases the risk of clogs. This simple step keeps your drains clear and prevents the need for emergency plumbing repairs when you should be enjoying time with family and friends.
Run Water While Using the Garbage Disposal
Your trash disposal is a useful tool, but it’s not unbreakable. If you’re not using it properly, you could be causing more harm than good. One of the most common mistakes is running the disposal without water. Without a steady stream of water to flush food particles through the system, debris can accumulate, leading to clogs that can be damaging to the disposal.
When using your garbage disposal, always run cold water before, during, and after to help wash away food waste. This habit ensures your disposal operates efficiently, and your pipes stay clear during the busiest time of the year.
Use Drain Covers
Holiday cooking often means an increase in food waste, with minor bits of food finding their way into your drains. A drain cover acts as a first line of defense, catching food particles and other debris before they can slip into your plumbing system.
Invest in high-quality drain covers for your kitchen and bathroom sinks. These inexpensive tools are easy to clean and make a significant difference in preventing clogs. You’ll be surprised at how much debris they catch, especially when you’re entertaining guests or cooking elaborate meals. By keeping unwanted items out of your pipes, you’ll reduce the likelihood of a blockage that could disrupt your holiday plans.
Check for Early Signs of Clogs
One of the easiest ways to avoid a full-blown plumbing emergency is to pay attention to the warning signs of a clog. Is your sink draining more slowly than usual? Does it make a gurgling noise after the water goes down? These are clear indicators that your pipes might be partially blocked. Addressing these difficulties early on may help to prevent them from escalating.
At the first sign of trouble, use a plunger or a safe drain cleaner with enzymes to clear out the clog. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber. Waiting too long might escalate a small problem into a large repair, which is the last thing you want during the Christmas season.
Avoid Non-Flushable Items
The bathroom often sees more traffic during the holidays, especially if you’re hosting guests. While it’s easy to assume that all paper products are flushable, that’s not the case. Items like wet wipes, facial tissues, and even “flushable” wipes don’t break down in water the same way toilet paper does, leading to clogs in your pipes or septic system.
Make sure everyone in your household understands what’s safe to flush. Keep a trash bin in the bathroom to encourage proper disposal of non-flushable items. A little education can go a long way in protecting your plumbing from unnecessary strain during this busy time of year.
Schedule a Pre-Holiday Plumbing Inspection
The holidays can put your plumbing under more stress than usual, and the last thing you want is for a small issue to turn into a major problem when your home is full of guests. A pre-holiday plumbing inspection is a smart way to catch potential issues before they escalate.
During an inspection, a skilled plumber will look for leaks, test your water heater, and make sure your drains and pipes are in excellent condition. They also suggest preventative actions, such as adding pipe insulation or updating aging fittings. A plumbing tune-up is an investment that may prevent expensive and bothersome issues in the future.
Protect Pipes for the Cold
While South Carolina winters aren’t the harshest, temperatures can still dip low enough to cause pipes to freeze, especially in unheated areas like basements or garages. Frozen pipes can burst, leading to extensive water damage and costly repairs.
Insulate any exposed pipes using foam sleeves or pipe wrap to prevent freezing. If a cold snap is approaching, let your faucets drip gently to keep water flowing and minimize pressure building in the pipes. To protect outside spigots from freezing conditions, detach the hoses and cover them with an insulated cover. These simple procedures may help keep your plumbing system safe over the winter.
Be Mindful of Water Usage
The holidays often mean more people under one roof using more water, which can put a strain on your plumbing system. Running the dishwasher, taking back-to-back showers, and doing multiple loads of laundry can overwhelm your water heater and drainage system.
To ease the burden, space out water-intensive activities. Run the dishwasher at night, encourage guests to take shorter showers, and limit the number of laundry load washes. Being mindful of water usage ensures your plumbing can keep up with the demands of the season without hiccups.
Contact Us for Peace of Mind
By preparing your plumbing for the winter months, you can avoid the stress of clogs and other holiday disruptions. A little upkeep now can keep you from paying a lot for fixes later and ensure your events go off seamlessly. Whether it’s being mindful of what goes down the drain or insulating your pipes against the chill, these simple steps make a big difference. If problems do emerge, intervening promptly will keep them from worsening.
Need professional help to safeguard your plumbing this winter? Contact Tuck & Howell, Inc. today for expert plumbing care, including drain cleaning. We also offer cooling, heating, ductwork, indoor air quality, crawlspace encapsulation, and sheet metal services.
