The holiday season is just around the corner and no matter what you celebrate, you may be hosting gatherings of friends and family. This means an added load on your plumbing system that you should prepare for in advance.
Give our team a call to schedule your plumbing maintenance services in Memphis, TN ahead of the holiday season. You can also keep reading to learn some of our tips for ways you can take proactive steps now to ensure your sinks and toilets are ready for the holidays, too.
Clean Your Drains
Having friends and family at your home means more people using the toilet and washing their hands. You’re likely also preparing a lot of food and therefore using your kitchen sink more than you usually would. It’s a good idea to go ahead and schedule pre-emptive drain cleaning with our team before the holiday season starts.
Drain cleaning is a service we recommend homeowners schedule once a year as part of routine plumbing maintenance. Full drain cleaning helps to keep away future aggravating clogged drain trouble, and it’s beneficial for your home’s plumbing system to remove buildup such as soap scum. You can avoid plumbing disasters this holiday season by scheduling this service with our team.
Insulate Your Pipes
The last thing you want to face during the holiday season is a frozen or busted pipe because the temperatures outside got colder than you anticipated. Go ahead and invest in insulation for any pipes that are exposed outside. This can include your water hose spigot and any other outdoor connections.
You may even need to insulate pipes in your garage that are more exposed to cold temperatures. Insulating your pipes can protect you from a plumbing emergency that leaves your plumbing system unusable until the problem gets fixed.
Care for Your Garbage Disposal
We already talked about your drains, but if you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, it needs additional care. Similar to your other drains, you can use baking soda or boiling water to clean it out. Your next step in caring for your garbage disposal is to be careful what you are rinsing down the drain.
Yes, your garbage disposal is in place for some food to go down your drains without worry. However, you want to avoid things like fibrous vegetables, eggshells, potato peels, shrimp shells, and coffee grounds. It’s also important to limit the amount of all food actually going down the disposal so that it doesn’t get clogged or jammed.
Avoid a Toilet Backup
It’s a good idea to go over with family members and guests what should and shouldn’t go down the toilet. Toilets are designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper, so flushing other items can lead to costly plumbing issues. Items like wipes (even those labeled as “flushable”), feminine hygiene products, Kleenex, cotton balls, dental floss, and paper towels do not break down quickly and can create blockages in your pipes. Remind your guests that these items are better suited for the garbage.
Since 1943, it’s been Automatic in Memphis! Contact the experts at Automatic Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to get started on your professional plumbing maintenance appointment.
