Holidays are one of the happiest, most memorable times of the year. They seem to be here before we know it. With them come family, friends, and more that come to town. While most might stay at the local hotel and spend some time with you, others, like close family, want to stay in the guest room and crash every moment of the day – that’s what family does, and we love them for it.
We love our families. We love spending time with them during the holidays. When relatives come to town, they upend our everyday routines in the best way possible. We’d be remiss as a plumbing company if we didn’t offer up some holiday plumbing tips to keep the water flowing and the smiles crackling with cheer when your house is full to the brim with the joy of family.
Holiday Plumbing Tips for Family Visits
Here are some of our best plumbing tips for family visits, as well as how to gently remind your guests about the house rules.
Mind the Kitchen Sink
We throw things down the kitchen sink like it’s nothing. Some know the rules. Some don’t. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, no food should ever go down the sink; if you have a garbage disposal, you can put some food down it but not everything. Things like eggshells, coffee grounds, honey, and grease should never be put down the kitchen sink.
Encourage your guests to throw food in the trash can, use a catcher to stop food from going down the drain, and consider printing out a list and posting by the sink to remind guests what they can and can’t put down it.
Leverage the Dishwasher
If you have a dishwasher, use it, even if you don’t use it as often. It’ll make your life easier. Surprisingly dishwashers save more water than washing dishes by hand. A dishwasher is only as good as you load it. Maximize the space but keep space between each dish. Ensure to wash all dishes off thoroughly before putting them in the dishwasher and run full loads to maximize efficiency.
To save yourself time and hassle, encourage your house guests to wash the dishes off and leave them in the sink for you or your family to load the dishwasher.
Cover the Shower Drains
Clogged shower drains are gross to clean up for anybody. Use a shower drain cover to prevent hair, debris, dead skin, and more from clogging the drain and making it run slowly, especially with more people showering than your home’s plumbing is used to. Make sure to spot clean the shower every day and keep an eye on any water flow issues from more frequent use.
Use the Toilet Properly
We’re not going to beat around the bush: sometimes toilets get clogged for many different reasons. Often, it’s because people flush the wrong things down one. Anything other than toilet paper shouldn’t go down the toilet – end of story. Feminine hygiene products should never be flushed. They should be thrown out in the trash can despite what the world’s told you your whole life. By ensuring your toilet only handles waste and toilet paper, you’ll prevent clogs and save your pipes from getting plugged, too.
Another handy sign like one for what can and can’t go down the kitchen sink might be handy for family during the holidays. Even having a separate mini trash can for feminine products is helpful if it’s that time of the month. Finally, keep an eye on the toilet daily and make sure to tackle clogs as soon as they pop up before the toilet overflows.
Keep an Eye on Slow Drains
If you notice any slow drains in your home, investigate immediately. This could mean a larger problem with your plumbing, although it most likely is from someone in your family not listening to your rules or going with the flow of what they do in their own home.
Look for any debris in the drain and remove it if you can see it, use a Zip-It tool for your shower drains, but stay away from over-the-counter drain cleaning products like Draino – they can do more harm than good. Call Mainstream for this one.
How to Talk to Family About Plumbing
It’s not a very cheerful topic but talking about plumbing with your family is essential to keeping your home in working order. Even if it’s not the holiday season, you should let them know how you use your home’s kitchen, bathroom, and other areas when you have guests. It’s simple:
- Tell your family about any quirks in the kitchen or bathroom
- Gently remind them if you see them doing something wrong
- Spot check and clean up after them instead of causing a scene
You don’t want to cause any trouble, start any fights, or must deal with any issues during the holiday. By laying down the ground rules when they visit, you’ll avoid any unnecessary holiday drama from family or friends visiting from out of town.
Don’t Wait to Call Mainstream When Plumbing Problems Arise
Call Mainstream in for any holiday plumbing issue that comes up that you can’t fix yourself or don’t feel comfortable with. Things like frozen pipes, leaky water heaters, and more will cause more trouble than you want to deal with during the holidays. You can do much more harm than good trying to fix plumbing issues during the holidays – or any time of the year – so don’t delay and call Mainstream today.
