Plumbing Emergency Prevention: Keep Your Drains and Garbage Disposal Clear this Holiday Season

The holiday season is a festive, food-filled time, and if you usually host the Thanksgiving Day meal or other important holiday events, you know how crazy it can get. Even if you’re hosting for the first time, there is always something unexpected that happens whether it’s a meal that gets over done or a toilet that gets clogged. To help you manage your home this holiday season, we pulled together some of the most important tips to prevent plumbing emergencies. You’ll at least have peace of mind knowing your home is in good hands. Here are the most important things you need to know to prepare for the big day.

Toilet Clogs, Running Toilets, Leaking Toilets

This is the one time of year that everyone gets to see each other, but it is also the busiest time of year for your toilets. The abundance of food and guests spells possible disaster for your toilets’ plumbing system. To make things run smoothly and prevent any unexpected toilet clogs, leaks, or overflows, remind your guests to never flush the following items down the toilet:

• Sanitary napkins
• Facial wipes
• Baby wipes
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Diapers
• Paper towels

Any items other than toilet paper that get flushed can lead to clogs in various areas of your pipes. Another sign of excessive use of your toilets is constant running or the inability to flush the toilet. If this occurs, check under the lid of your toilet to see if the chain attached to the flapper is caught. Resetting this system will make it easier for the tank to refill and flush the toilet. If anything unexpected happens with your plumbing, you can always call Total Plumbing for a quick response.

What to NOT put in your Garbage Disposal 

We know the extensive amount of preparation that goes into cooking a Thanksgiving meal, and with all that happens in the kitchen, sometimes your disposal and drains get overlooked. One of the most important tips of cooking a big meal is to watch what you’re putting down your garbage disposal. Too many food scraps at one time can clog your disposal, especially if they’re too tough. Here is a list of food scraps that should be thrown away in the trash rather than down your disposal:

• Poultry bones
• Fruit pits
• Potato skins
• Celery
• Corn husks
• Grease

All of these items, including any foods that expand once they get wet, can either clog your disposal or collect in your pipes. Grease may seem harmless, but in fact, it is one of the most dangerous items on the list. Grease as a liquid is deceiving because any liquid seems okay to be poured down your disposal, but once grease cools, it collects as a solid, which can settle in your drains and collect other debris that float by. The result can be disastrous for your pipes, so avoid putting any of the above down your drains. Instead, put grease in a container to be thrown away or to be used again for other meals. Follow these tips for plumbing emergency prevention, and you can start planning for the perfect Thanksgiving Day. If any issues do arise aside from the ones stated above, Total Plumbing is always here to take your call. Ensure your plumbing is in the best shape possible before the craze begins by scheduling a pre-holiday home plumbing inspection! Call Total Plumbing today.