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The holiday season is an anticipated, busy time for many Michigan families. It often means having guests in the home, a lot of cooking, and increased plumbing usage. This increase in activity, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms, puts stress on your plumbing. What starts as a minor drip or slow drain can quickly snowball into a major, costly disaster. Fortunately, being proactive about plumbing maintenance can make a world of difference.
1: Guard Your Kitchen Against Clogs and Garbage Disposal Abuse
The kitchen sink and garbage disposal are ground zero for holiday plumbing problems. Between preparing large meals and cleaning up, your drain is often handling materials it was never designed to handle. The number one enemy of a free-flowing drain is fat, oil, and grease (FOG).
Protecting Your Drains From FOG
Fats, oil, and grease may be liquid when hot, but they solidify as soon as they cool down inside your pipes. This leads to sticky, impenetrable blockages that grow over time. Instead of pouring it down the drain, scrape all grease and oil into a jar or can, let it cool and solidify, and then toss it in the trash.
Being Mindful of Your Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal is a convenience tool, not a trash can. It’s meant to handle small food scraps, not large quantities of leftovers. The following items should never be put into your disposal. They can overwhelm the motor or bind the blades:
- Fibrous vegetables like celery and asparagus
- Starchy items like pasta, rice, and potatoes
- Bones, pits, and corn cobs
- Coffee grounds and eggshells
- Non-food items like bottle caps or cleaning sponges
When you do use your disposal, always run a strong stream of cold water. You should run this water during use and for at least 30 seconds after use. The cold water keeps the motor from overheating and helps flush the materials completely out of the line. If you notice a slow-draining kitchen sink, it’s a clear warning sign that a blockage is forming. This is when professional attention may be needed.
2: Take Action Against the Threat of Frozen Pipes
In Michigan, winter brings cold temperatures that put your pipes at risk of freezing. A frozen pipe can block your water supply, and worse. The pipe can expand and actually burst. This results in massive flooding and extensive water damage. It’s unfortunately a common and costly holiday disaster, especially in cold areas.
Insulate Exposed Plumbing
The most susceptible pipes are those located in areas like basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics. To insulate these pipes, you can wrap them with foam pipe sleeves, which are readily available. For an added layer of protection, consider installing heat tape along the length of the pipes. This will provide a small amount of warmth when temperatures drop.
Managing Water Flow During Cold Spells
On nights when the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, take simple steps to ensure that your water flows:
- Open the doors to cabinets under your sinks to let warmer air reach the pipes
- Keep your garage door closed if water supply lines are running through it
- Allow a faucet to slowly drip, which prevents water from fully freezing
Winterizing Exterior Faucets
Don’t forget your outdoor plumbing. Disconnect all garden hoses and drain any water remaining inside. Locate the shut-off valve(s) for your exterior spigots and turn them off. Open the spigot outside to let any remaining water drain out.
3: Schedule a Professional Plumbing Inspection to Prevent Issues
While DIY preventative measures are valuable, they can’t replace the expertise of a licensed professional. Scheduling a professional plumbing inspection is the ultimate proactive measure to ensure your entire system is ready for the demands of the holiday season. We recommend that you explore this service ahead of any major gatherings, particularly during the winter months.
A trained plumber from Service Professor will look beyond the surface, using specialized equipment to check for:
- Hidden, slow leaks inside walls or under floors
- Corrosion or damage to older pipes
- Pressure issues that could strain the system
- The condition and efficiency of your water heater
- Minor clogs that have formed deep in the drain or sewer lines
A plumbing inspection is the best way to identify potential problems before they end up as a disaster. It’s much easier for us to address a minor issue discovered during an inspection than it is to respond to an emergency burst pipe.
4: Be Proactive About Scheduling Plumbing Repair for Minor Issues
Many homeowners choose to live with small plumbing annoyances. However, these seemingly minor issues are red flags that should not be ignored.
Running Toilets and Leaky Faucets
A running toilet or dripping faucet can waste a significant amount of water. More importantly, it often signals an issue with the interior components of the fixture. If the internal components are already worn, increased use can easily lead to a total breakdown.
Ignoring Slow Drains Is Risky
A slow-draining bathtub or sink suggests a growing clog. With more showers and hand-washing during the holidays, that slow drain is almost guaranteed to become a complete blockage. Promptly scheduling plumbing repair for these minor issues ensures your system can handle the increased use when you need it the most.
When you call Service Professor for a repair, we not only fix the immediate problem but also assess the underlying cause to prevent recurrence. We work for the long-term reliability of your plumbing system.
5: Protect Your Water Heater from Holiday Overload
With more guests taking showers and more laundry being done, your water heater will face higher demand than usual. Older water heaters are going to struggle in this scenario.
One of the best plumbing tips for the holiday season is to schedule water heater service. A professional contractor can perform a few simple tasks to enhance the unit’s efficiency. They can also check the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is working safely.
If your water heater is old, it’s always best to have a professional assess it before the rush begins. Service Professor offers water heater services, including repairs and the installation of new, efficient models.
Plumbing tips for the holiday season are great, but a plumbing inspection is the best way to ensure reliability. The team at Service Professor is your single point of contact for all system-related needs. In addition to our inspection and repair services, we offer comprehensive drain and sewer services, as well as other related services.
Contact Service Professor today for more information about our plumbing services before the holiday rush begins.
