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With guests gathered around the tree and festive desserts in the oven, the last thing you want is for a plumbing disaster to destroy your holiday celebration. However, all the extra activity puts stress on your plumbing and increases the likelihood of something going wrong at the worst possible time. Here are five plumbing disasters that can ruin your holiday season and how to avoid them.
1. Water Heater Leaving You in the Cold
There’s nothing like a hot bath on a chilly winter day, but all the extra cooking, cleaning, and overnight guests during the holidays can put your water heater over the edge. Problems range from constantly running out of hot water to your boiler failing. The good news is that some simple pre-holiday maintenance is all it takes to keep your water as warm as your memories.
Ensure your water heater’s safety by checking the pressure relief valve, and give it a flush to remove sediment that can reduce its performance and efficiency. Avoid activities that strain your water heater, like running multiple hot showers or doing the dishes and washing clothes at the same time. If you plan to be away from home for more than a few days, set your water heater to vacation mode to reduce energy usage.
Whether you need repairs for your water heater or an upgrade to a tankless model before the holidays, our team at Anton's Plumbing, Heating/Cooling & Energy Experts can help. We offer seasonal maintenance to get your water heater ready for cold weather and fast, reliable emergency service when things go wrong. Our customers in St. Louis and the surrounding areas trust us to keep their hot water flowing with expert service at an honest price.
2. Plugging Up Your Kitchen Sink
The hearty foods that everyone loves to eat around the holidays often contain more fat and starch than everyday meals, which can clog up your kitchen drains. Grease, butter, potatoes, and boiling pasta water are just a few of the festive ingredients that take a toll on your drains during the holiday season. Excess scraps and leftovers in your sink also contribute to clogged drains.
The best way to avoid disaster from clogged kitchen drains is to prevent them in the first place. Use drain covers to catch large pieces of debris before they make it into your pipes. Have your guests scrape their plates into a trash can before putting their dishes away, or collect dishes in plastic bins instead of the sink. Never pour used oil or grease down the drain. Consider professional drain cleaning before the holidays to prevent any existing clogs from getting worse.
If your kitchen drains still get clogged despite your best efforts, avoid using those harsh chemical drain cleaners from the hardware store. Try flushing the drain with hot water or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. When a clog is too tough for these simple methods, call a professional to repair the drain. Attempting to unclog a drain yourself can cause more damage and lead to more costly repairs.
3. Toilets Putting in Overtime
It’s understandable that your toilets get a workout over the holiday season. If your toilet is already showing signs of distress, it may not survive the holidays, and flooded floors or the stench of sewage can really put a damper on your festivities.
Here are some signs that your toilet could use an upgrade before the guests start arriving:
- Water leaking from toilet
- Frequent repairs
- Difficulty flushing
- Runs constantly
- Clogs easily
Even if your toilet seems fine, it may not be able to handle everything your visitors throw at it. Keep a plunger within easy reach in case any of your guests need it. Only keep toilet paper in the bathroom to prevent the flushing of paper towels, facial tissues, or wipes.
4. Garbage Disposal Crashing
Holiday dinners provide many opportunities for your garbage disposal to act up. It’s important to remember that garbage disposals aren’t designed to handle all of your kitchen waste. Avoid putting bones or fibrous materials in your garbage disposal, as well as excess grease or oil.
When you’re cooking with friends and family, keep a waste bin handy to reduce the temptation to put anything and everything down the garbage disposal. Consider clearing the plates yourself after dinner or covering the garbage disposal. Don’t put off contacting us for a garbage disposal repair if yours is acting up. Leaving it for later can lead to disaster when your garbage disposal decides to fling debris all over your kitchen or stink up your house while you’re hosting holiday celebrations.
5. Pipes Freezing
A white Christmas is beautiful, but the freezing temperatures that go along with the snow can spell disaster for your pipes. Frozen pipes not only cause your faucets to stop flowing but can also cause pipes to burst as the water inside expands due to freezing. This can lead to leaks and flooding when the temperatures rise again. Frozen and burst pipes are among the most common winter plumbing problems, but there are many simple steps you can take to keep your pipes safe in cold temperatures.
The most important thing is to keep indoor temperatures warm enough to prevent frozen pipes. If you’re leaving for vacation, remember to leave the heat on and your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also leave your faucets dripping during extreme cold temperatures because running water is less likely to freeze. The extra water and energy usage is less expensive than repairing flood damage and replacing pipes.
If you have exposed pipes in unheated areas like the garage, basement, or outdoors, add extra insulation to prevent freezing. Drain any outdoor fixtures if possible, and remove and store away hoses. You can use heat lamps or outdoor heaters to keep pipes warm if necessary, but remember to keep an eye on them to prevent fires.
Avert Disaster With Quality Plumbing Services
Whether you’re hosting the whole family or closing up your house for a winter getaway, Anton's Plumbing, Heating/Cooling & Energy Experts in St. Louis is here to help you avoid plumbing disasters this holiday season. From last-minute emergencies to the maintenance services you need to get ready for a big celebration, we offer customized solutions for all your plumbing problems. Our expert plumbers can unclog your drain or toilet, upgrade your water heater, and take care of your frozen pipes.
If you want to beef up your plumbing for the holidays or need help with a sudden disaster, call Anton's Plumbing, Heating/Cooling & Energy Experts for fast, reliable plumbing services in St. Louis.
