Do you remember the holiday by the plumbing failure that occurred? If so, you’re not alone. Plumbing emergencies seem to strike most often during the holidays. Whether it’s a backed-up toilet or a clogged drain, it can seem like your plumbing is giving up as the year ends. So, you’re likely wondering what’s causing these holiday plumbing headaches? The simple answer is procrastination. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to put off until tomorrow what doesn’t have to be done today. Most homeowners are busy. Many have hectic lives with jobs, kids, and family, leaving little time for other tasks. The plumbing issues that seem to strike during the holiday season are actually the same minor issues that you may have noticed during the summer but didn’t think were serious problems.
3 Causes of Holiday Season Plumbing Issues
When you have your family on their way to visit your home, the last thing you have time to worry about is calling in a plumber to inspect, repair, or replace your system. Last-minute cooking and cleaning often take priority over repairs and maintenance, so worn or ailing plumbing gets strained to its limit from holiday wear and tear. Here’s a list of the most common plumbing problems that seem to strike during holiday parties and dinners. While you are sprucing up your home for guests, you can add a few of these items to your inspection list to avoid a holiday emergency.
Slow Drains Can Mean You’re Headed for a Serious Clog
If your sinks are draining slowly, you can find high usage during the holiday can lead to a full-blown clog. Once your drains are emptying slowly, you should have your system inspected. It’s not a good idea to add more users if your system is showing signs of stress. Additional users can make a small issue worse. The best thing you can do is get the problem handled as soon as you notice an issue and then set up a few proactive features to prevent future clogs. You can avoid slow drains in the future by adding hair traps to your shower drains and avoiding putting fats, oils, and grease down your kitchen drain.
Gurgles Can Mean You’re Headed for a Backed-Up Toilet
When your toilet is backed-up in the middle of your holiday hosting duties, it can be hard to think of anything else. Your toilet doesn’t typically become backed up instantly. Your toilet will usually start with a few post-flush gurgles. These bubbling noises are the first sign there’s a blockage within your toilet system. The gurgling noise is the sound of air moving around the clog, but that doesn’t mean it’s in the drain. It could be anywhere in the system, from the drain to the sewer line. If you can’t get a gurgling toilet inspected before holiday visitors arrive, you may want to have guests steer clear of the toilet with the issue. A compromised toilet may not be able to withstand the strain of additional users. You can avoid a gurgling toilet becoming a backed-up one by practicing a bit of preventative maintenance. You can schedule drain cleaning to eliminate any current buildup before it becomes something more obstructive. It’s also important to watch what goes down your toilet.
Items like:
- Dental Floss
- Sanitary Napkins
- Diapers
- Paper Towels
Don’t Ignore Seemly Minor Issues
The major takeaway from these plumbing tips is don’t avoid minor issues. When these problems are small and easy to resolve, fix them. Fixing plumbing problems while they are minor ones can prevent emergency problems during your holiday festivities. If your sewer or drain needs maintenance and tune-up services before you entertain guests for the holidays, then call us now at (909) 552-7550 for more information about how we can help!