Plumbing Tips for the Holiday Season: Avoid Holiday Plumbing Problems

The holiday season means family gatherings, big meals, overnight guests, and plenty of time spent at home. Unfortunately, all that extra activity can also put additional demand on your home’s plumbing.

Kitchen sinks handle more food waste, toilets get flushed more frequently, showers run longer, and your water heater has to provide hot water for more people. Add the possibility of freezing North Texas temperatures, and the holidays can quickly become a busy time for your plumbing system.

The last thing anyone wants during a holiday gathering is a clogged kitchen sink, overflowing toilet, sewer backup, or cold shower.

Total Plumbing Service Inc. has served homeowners throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex since 1996. Here are some practical holiday plumbing tips to help keep your home running smoothly this season.

1. Keep Grease Out of Your Kitchen Drain

Holiday cooking can produce a lot of grease, fats, and cooking oils.

It may be tempting to pour grease down the kitchen sink while it’s still warm and liquid, but that’s one of the easiest ways to create a stubborn drain clog.

As grease cools, it can solidify and stick to the inside of your drain lines. Food particles and other debris can then collect on the buildup, gradually restricting the pipe.

Instead, allow grease to cool and dispose of it in the trash.

Even if you have a garbage disposal, grease should stay out of the drain.

2. Be Careful What Goes Into Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal can make holiday cleanup easier, but it isn’t designed to handle everything left over from dinner.

Avoid putting large amounts of food waste down the disposal, especially:

• Bones

• Grease and cooking oils

• Coffee grounds

• Eggshells

• Fibrous vegetables

• Fruit pits

• Large quantities of potato peels

• Pasta and rice

Feed small amounts of appropriate food waste into the disposal at a time and run water while the disposal is operating.

If your disposal becomes jammed, don’t put your hand inside it. Turn the unit off and have the problem safely addressed if you can’t easily determine what’s wrong.

3. Take Care of Slow Drains Before Guests Arrive

If your kitchen sink or bathroom drain is already moving slowly, don’t wait until your house is full of guests to deal with it.

A slow drain often indicates that a partial blockage has already formed.

Additional cooking, showers, laundry, and bathroom usage can make an existing problem much more noticeable.

Warning signs include:

• Water draining slowly

• Recurring clogs

• Gurgling sounds

• Unpleasant drain odors

• Toilets bubbling when other fixtures drain

• Water backing up into a shower or bathtub

If several fixtures are affected at the same time, you may have a blockage farther down the drainage system.

Professional drain cleaning before the holidays can help prevent an inconvenient backup during your gathering.

4. Remind Guests What Shouldn’t Be Flushed

More people in the house means your toilets and sewer system are working overtime.

Make sure only toilet paper and human waste are flushed.

Items that should go into the trash include:

• Paper towels

• Facial tissues

• Feminine hygiene products

• Cotton swabs

• Dental floss

• Baby wipes

• Cleaning wipes

• So-called “flushable” wipes

Even products marketed as flushable may not break down as quickly as toilet paper and can contribute to drain and sewer line blockages.

Keeping a small trash can near the toilet makes proper disposal easier for guests.

5. Give Your Water Heater a Break

When several guests stay at your home, your water heater may suddenly be asked to handle significantly more showers, dishes, and laundry than normal.

Try spacing out showers and other activities that require large amounts of hot water.

If your water heater already struggles to provide enough hot water during normal household use, additional holiday demand may expose an existing problem.

Watch for:

• Hot water running out quickly

• Inconsistent temperatures

• Water taking unusually long to heat

• Strange noises from the water heater

• Discolored hot water

• Water leaking around the tank

A professional water heater repair or replacement may be necessary if the system can no longer reliably meet your household’s needs.

6. Don’t Ignore a Running Toilet

A toilet that continuously runs may seem like a minor annoyance, but increased holiday usage can make an existing problem worse.

Listen for toilets that continue running after flushing or periodically refill even when they haven’t been used.

Common causes include problems with the flapper, fill valve, or other components inside the tank.

Addressing a running toilet can prevent unnecessary water waste and reduce the chance of a problem occurring while guests are using the bathroom.

7. Prepare Your Pipes for a North Texas Freeze

Holiday weather in Dallas-Fort Worth can be unpredictable. One week may feel like fall, while the next brings freezing temperatures.

Before a freeze arrives:

• Disconnect garden hoses

• Protect exposed water lines

• Repair dripping outdoor faucets

• Know where your main water shutoff is located

• Keep vulnerable plumbing protected from cold air

• Address existing leaks before temperatures drop

Knowing where your main water shutoff is particularly important. If a pipe does burst, shutting off the water quickly can help minimize damage.

8. Watch for Signs of a Main Sewer Line Problem

Holiday gatherings can expose problems that were already developing inside your sewer system.

Pay attention if multiple toilets or drains suddenly begin acting differently.

Signs of a possible main sewer line problem include gurgling toilets, multiple slow drains, sewage odors, recurring backups, or water coming up through a shower or bathtub when another fixture is used.

These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored.

Depending on the situation, professional drain cleaning or a sewer camera inspection may be necessary to determine what’s causing the problem.

9. Avoid Last-Minute DIY Plumbing Repairs

When guests are arriving in a few hours, it’s tempting to attempt a quick repair.

Simple tasks may be manageable, but be careful about taking apart plumbing systems or using harsh chemicals when you aren’t sure what’s causing the problem.

A temporary fix that damages a pipe or pushes a blockage farther into the drainage system can turn a minor inconvenience into a much larger repair.

When you’re unsure, calling a licensed plumber can save time and frustration.

Enjoy the Holidays Without Plumbing Problems

The holidays should be spent enjoying time with family and friends—not dealing with an overflowing toilet or backed-up kitchen sink.

A little preparation can help keep your plumbing system ready for increased holiday demand. Keep grease and inappropriate food waste out of your drains, address slow drains before guests arrive, pay attention to your water heater, and prepare exposed plumbing for freezing temperatures.

If you notice a plumbing problem, Total Plumbing Service Inc. is here to help.

We provide professional drain cleaning, sewer services, water heater repair and replacement, leak detection and repair, gas line services, and residential plumbing repairs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex.

Total Plumbing Service Inc. has served North Texas homeowners since 1996, helping families diagnose plumbing problems and find the right solutions for their homes.

Contact Total Plumbing Service Inc. today to schedule plumbing service and get your home ready for the holiday season.