If you’re opening up your home to guests this holiday season, now is the time to prepare your plumbing. It’s embarrassing to have a clogged shower drain or a broken toilet while hosting family or friends. To ensure your house is ready for visitors, follow these tips.

How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Holiday Guests

1. Check Your Toilets

Having guests means your toilets will be used more than usual, so make sure they’re up to the task. Test the handles, check the water levels in the tanks, and call a plumber if they’re constantly running.

Leave supplies like extra toilet paper and a plunger out where guests can see them. Also, make sure your guests are aware of what they can and can’t flush—a small sign above the toilet will do the trick.

2. Invest in Drain Catchers

If you’re having overnight guests, protect your bathroom plumbing from the increase in shower sessions and all the clog-draining hair that comes with it. Install drain catchers to prevent clogs. They’re inexpensive and easy to find at hardware and home stores.

3. Take Care of Your Water Heater

An increase in shower time also means your water heater will work harder. If you’re hosting multiple guests, ask them to space out their showers so the heater has some time to recover.

It’s also smart to turn the water heater up a bit—no higher than 120°F—to accommodate the extra use.

If you haven’t had your water heater inspected or serviced in a year or more, schedule a maintenance appointment before your guests arrive to check that it’s in working order.

To ensure your home is ready for holiday guests, contact the experts at A-1 Budget Plumbing in Honolulu. From drain cleaning and water heater installation to 24-hour emergency services, they’ve provided reliable plumbing services to residential and commercial clients throughout Oahu for more than 30 years. Visit their website to learn more about their services, and call (808) 526-3747 to make an appointment with a plumber today.