The holiday season can bring some fun times with family. Many holiday traditions require increased kitchen usage, whether cooking holiday cookies or enjoying a sit-down dinner with all your family nearby. To keep your plumbing clear of clogs during the holiday season, following some simple tips we’ll talk about below is helpful.
Have a Designated Grease Disposal Container
Grease is one of those items that should never be put down your drain. It will inevitably cool down and form a gel-like substance that creates the perfect attractant for other materials that can lead to a clog. It’s best to have a designated grease disposal container to help ensure grease doesn’t go down your drain. This could simply be an empty can that sits near your sink to ensure you always have a convenient place to put your grease and other similar oils.
Be Mindful With Food Scraps
Garbage disposals can be exceptionally advantageous in your kitchen, especially during the holiday season. However, it’s vital to ensure you’re not putting down items that could damage the disposal blades or get lodged in your piping. Some food scraps to avoid putting down your garbage disposal include fruit pits and peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, bones, nuts, and even pasta. Opt for the trash bin instead of your garbage disposal when in doubt.
Schedule Drain Cleaning Service
Another great tip is to invest in a professional drain cleaning service just before the holiday season. This will remove any buildup of debris inside your piping that could lead to an unfortunate clog, significantly reducing your risk of experiencing a drain clog during the hustle and bustle of holiday parties and cooking events.
Use Drain Strainers
One of the best ways to prevent unfavorable items from going down your sink drains is to employ drain strainers. Metal strainers are fairly strong and will stay in place. Be sure to put these in your sinks and showers to prevent any loose hair or food particles from getting trapped in the strainer. Regular cleaning will be necessary to ensure adequate drainage for each location.
Advise Guests About Usage
Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for guests to flush items down the drain that may clog your drain. A great tip is to leave behind signs to advise guests about your desired flushing restrictions. For example, leaving a sign in the bathroom to avoid flushing down flushable wipes or feminine products alongside a garbage can for proper disposal is ideal. This will go a long way in helping to prevent the wrong items from going down your drain and causing a problem during the holiday season.
Run Water When Running Your Garbage Disposal
While garbage disposals can be highly convenient, they can cause problems when incorrectly used. One rule of thumb is always to ensure you run water whenever you run your garbage disposal. This will ensure that all the items in your garbage disposal are pulverized so they can be pulled safely down your sewer line.
Use All Natural Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners can be an effective tool in your arsenal to help keep your drains clean. However, you need to be mindful of the drain cleaners you put down your plumbing system. Avoid traditional cleaners and only opt for all-natural cleaners. These don’t contain any chemicals, so they won’t harm your piping while doing their job. Consider using these cleaners every few weeks to keep your drains in good condition.
Clean Drain Stoppers Weekly
It’s prevalent for vanity sinks in the bathroom or laundry room to contain drain stoppers. These pieces move up and down to allow you to fill up water in your sink. Unfortunately, these stoppers can be the perfect location to grab unwanted debris, like hair or toothpaste. It’s best to pull out each stopper and clean it at least once a week.
Reliable Drain Cleaning Service
Linn Benton Plumbing offers the Albany, OR, community reliable drain cleaning services. We can also help with all your sewer, drain, repiping, water heater, fixture repair and replacement, and general plumbing needs. Contact our office staff today to book your next service call with one of our friendly and professional plumbers.
