Whether you’re cooking a large meal or decorating outdoors, the holidays can be hectic enough without adding a plumbing problem into the mix. Before family and friends arrive to celebrate the season, follow the plumbing repair tips below to prevent a debacle while you’re decking the halls.           

A Plumbing Repair Guide to the Holidays 

1. Clear the Garbage Disposal

Holidays usually involve a lot of food preparation, which means you’ll want your garbage disposal in tip-top condition. To sharpen the blades, drop a handful of ice cubes into the disposal. Run cold water from the tap, turn on the disposal, and let it grind up the ice. To prevent clogs, avoid putting items such as bones, grease, egg shells, fruit pits, coffee grounds, and fibrous vegetables like celery down the disposal.              

2. Free Up Slow Drains

If your drains are slow, pour about two cups of white vinegar down them, wait a few hours, and then flush them with hot water. For extra-tough clogs, sprinkle baking soda into the drain, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to froth for a few hours, and then pour hot water down the drain.  

3. Unclog Toilets

If you don’t own a plunger, purchase one before the holidays and keep it in the bathroom. When a toilet doesn’t flush properly, don’t flush it again — it will likely overflow! Use the plunger instead. But as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so to avoid a clogged toilet, refrain from flushing objects such as baby wipes, paper towels, cigarette butts, and feminine products. Provide a waste basket for your guests to dispose of these items.  

4. Check the Hot Water Heater

Cold showers can really dampen the holiday spirit, so check your hot water heater before guests arrive to make sure it’s working properly. You can turn up the temperature on your heater to increase its capacity, but no higher than 120-degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding. Spacing out showers and baths is another good way to avoid cold showers, as it gives the tank time to recover between uses.  

5. Ensure Fixtures Are Safe & Up to Date

Before company comes for the holidays, check all sink, shower, and tub faucets for corrosion. Corrosion can make faucets difficult to turn. Also, look for and fix leaks in faucets, shower heads, and sink spouts. With extra people using the facilities, a slow drip can quickly turn into a bigger problem.   

If you have plumbing repair needs during the holidays or anytime, turn to Bernie Buchner, the premier plumbing company in La Crosse, WI. Their highly skilled tradespeople provide top-quality repair and installation services, and are on call 24/7. The company prides itself on its employees’ honesty, local availability, and up-front pricing. For more information or to request plumbing repair services, visit their website or call (608) 784-9000.