Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest of the year for any residential plumbers? Big holiday meal preparation and cleanup can lead to excessive waste in the kitchen drain and garbage disposal. Also, a house full of holiday guests who require additional clothes washing, showers and toilet flushes puts a strain on household plumbing.
Often, a house already has partially clogged drains that go unnoticed until holiday guests arrive and overwhelm the system. Hectic houses full of people and frantic hosts can quickly lead to plumbing problems throughout the holiday season.
Even more problematic is that virtually every traditional Thanksgiving dish is a supreme drain clog culprit.
Thanksgiving hosts can avoid a visit from their plumber over the holiday weekend by following these clog-preventing tips:
-- Never pour fats or cooking oils down drains. They solidify in pipes. Instead, wipe grease from pots with paper towels and throw them in the trash.
-- Avoid putting stringy, fibrous or starchy waste in the garbage disposal. Poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato peels, for example, cannot be sufficiently broken down.
-- Make sure the disposal is running when you put food into it. Don’t wait until it’s full to turn it on.
-- For homes hosting weekend guests, it’s a good idea to wait ten minutes between showers so slow drains have time to do their job.
-- Never flush cotton balls, swabs, hair or facial scrub pads down a toilet. They don’t dissolve and will cause clogs.
-- Try to address any plumbing problems before the holiday and before guests arrive. However, in holiday emergencies, don’t hesitate to ask up front about extra holiday service fees.
As always, know your limits. Minor plumbing problems often turn into plumbing catastrophes if not handled properly.
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