November brings cooler weather, family gatherings, holiday meals, and more activity inside the home. It also brings something plumbers know all too well: an increase in clogged drains, overworked garbage disposals, running toilets, and unexpected plumbing emergencies.
A little preparation now can help keep your holiday season focused on family and food instead of leaks and backed-up sinks.
Start in the kitchen. Holiday cooking places extra stress on drains and garbage disposals. Fats, oils, and grease should never be poured down the sink. They may go down as liquids, but they can cool and harden inside your pipes, creating stubborn blockages. Instead, allow grease to cool and dispose of it in the trash.
Your garbage disposal also needs a little respect. Avoid putting bones, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, large amounts of potato peels, or other difficult foods down the disposal. Feed food scraps slowly, run plenty of cold water, and allow the disposal to continue running briefly after the food is gone.
Bathrooms can experience problems too, especially when overnight guests arrive. Remind family members that toilets are designed for toilet paper and human waste—not wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, or other household items. Even products labeled “flushable” can create problems in some plumbing systems.
November is also a good time to check for small leaks. Inspect faucets, toilets, and the areas under sinks. A dripping faucet or toilet that occasionally runs may seem minor, but holiday guests can increase water usage and place additional pressure on a system that is already struggling.
Do not forget your water heater. More people in the house means more showers, more dishes, and greater demand for hot water. If your water heater is older, making unusual noises, producing inconsistent temperatures, or showing signs of corrosion, have it checked before Thanksgiving weekend—not while everyone is waiting for a hot shower.
Outdoor plumbing deserves attention as temperatures fall. Disconnect garden hoses, inspect outdoor faucets, and protect exposed pipes before freezing weather arrives. North Carolina may not experience months of extreme cold, but it only takes one hard freeze to cause a burst pipe.
The holidays should create memories, not emergency repair stories.
Taking a few simple precautions before guests arrive can protect your home, reduce stress, and help your plumbing handle the extra holiday activity.
And when something does not look, sound, or drain quite right, address it early. Plumbing problems rarely improve by ignoring them.
Plumbs Up Plumbing is proud to help homeowners throughout Pitt County and surrounding communities keep their plumbing systems working reliably all year long.
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