The holidays are a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, but extra people in your home mean extra strain on your plumbing system. More cooking, cleaning, and bathroom use all increase the demand on drains, pipes, and your water heater. The last thing you want is a plumbing emergency ruining the celebration. With a bit of preparation, smart habits, and help from our team at Wild West Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, you can prevent most holiday plumbing issues.
Prepare Kitchen Plumbing
Holiday cooking means your kitchen sink and garbage disposal will be working overtime. Knowing how to use them properly is key to preventing clogs.
Avoid pouring oil, fats, or grease down the drain. These cool and solidify inside pipes, creating stubborn blockages. Instead, pour them into a container, allow them to cool, and throw them away. If small amounts accidentally go down the drain, run cold water while cleaning up. Hot water can melt grease, only for it to re-solidify farther down the line, which makes clogs harder to reach.
Remember that the garbage disposal is not a trash can. Avoid putting fibrous foods like celery, corn husks, and onion skins into the disposal. Their long fibers can wrap around the blades and slow or jam the motor. If they make it into the pipes, they can form clogs.
Also avoid disposing of foods such as pasta, rice, bread, and potato peels. These expand with water and form a sticky mass that blocks drains. Hard items such as bones, fruit pits, and eggshells can damage disposal blades or jam the motor.
Coffee grounds should also be kept out of the disposal. They do not break down and often combine with grease to create thick sludge inside your pipes.
Since it can be hard to monitor everything going into the sink while hosting, place sink strainers over your drains to catch debris. Empty them often into the trash or compost.
Be sure to run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal. Running water for at least 30 seconds helps move food particles through the pipes and reduces the chance of clogs.
Get Your Bathroom Ready for Guests
Greater bathroom use can also lead to plumbing issues. Help your system handle the extra demand by reminding guests what belongs in the toilet. Only flush human waste and toilet paper. Items like feminine hygiene products, cotton balls, paper towels, and wipes should never go down the toilet.
Even products labeled “flushable” should be thrown away. They do not break down the way toilet paper does and can form blockages when they combine with grease and debris inside your pipes.
Provide an easy-to-access wastebasket in every bathroom so guests have a proper place to throw away items that should not be flushed. You can also place drain strainers in sinks, showers, and tubs to catch hair and soap residue.
To reduce strain on your water heater, ask guests to space out their showers. Waiting 15 to 20 minutes between showers allows the tank to recover. If you have a tankless water heater, confirm that your unit can support the increased demand. Routine maintenance before the holidays can help ensure reliable performance.
General Pre-Holiday Preparations
Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is located. Test it ahead of time to ensure it operates correctly. Turning off the water quickly can prevent major damage if a pipe bursts or a fixture fails.
Frozen pipes can be an issue in cold Montana winters. Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as crawlspaces, attics, and basements. Heat tape can also help protect vulnerable lines.
Professional Plumbing Assistance
Fix any plumbing concerns before the holiday rush. Dripping faucets, slow drains, or a running toilet may seem minor, but extra usage can turn them into major problems. Waiting too long can also lead to more damage and costly repairs.
Consider scheduling a pre-holiday inspection and maintenance visit. A professional can identify early signs of corrosion, leak detection, and weak points, allowing you to address issues before guests arrive. Maintenance protects your floors, walls, foundation, and water heater from avoidable damage.
Routine tune-ups also extend the lifespan of your plumbing system and help keep water bills down by preventing waste. A professional inspection ensures everything meets local codes, which is especially important if you plan to remodel or sell your home.
Most importantly, an inspection gives you peace of mind. When potential issues are addressed in advance, you can enjoy the holidays with confidence.
If you need help preparing your plumbing system for the holiday season, turn to Wild West Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Kalispell, MT. We are a family-owned business with more than 39 years of experience. Our team provides residential and commercial plumbing services, from drain cleaning to major sewer repairs. We also service water heaters and offer 24/7 emergency assistance. We back our work with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and proudly maintain an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Contact Wild West Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today to get your plumbing ready for the holidays.
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