It’s important to note that while you should leave in-depth plumbing repairs to a qualified professional, taking care of the ways you interface with your plumbing can go a long way toward keeping your plumbing in good shape. This means understanding how to use your garbage disposal and your toilet. More critically, however, you should understand how not to use them.
When having family and guests over, ensure they’re informed about what not to flush down the toilet. Feminine products, “flushable” wipes, pretty much anything other than toilet paper and waste has the potential to clog your plumbing. Contrary to what marketing materials would suggest, wet wipes are not flushable, and their absorbency can cause them to wad up and cause a blockage deep inside your pipes. This can potentially lead to a clogged toilet, or even worse – a whole house stoppage.
Another thing to remember is the best way to use your garbage disposal. Think of it as a blender; when making a smoothie, adding more water makes it flow easier and become less chunky. So, when you’re using your garbage disposal, always keep the water running while it’s on and processing food. This allows the food waste to become liquefied properly and travel through your plumbing easier, reducing the chance of a blockage. Even after you’ve turned the garbage disposal off, it’s important to run the tap for a while to allow the water to carry the waste through your plumbing.
Make sure you watch what you put down the garbage disposal, too! Grease, for example, is better destined for the trash because it can build up and harden in your drain. Eggshells, pasta, and potatoes should be thrown away as well because they can be difficult for the blades to eliminate properly.
Holiday Guidelines To Bear In Mind
Before your house is brimming with wholesome food and good company, there are a couple of things you should do:
- Prepare for colder weather. Before the holidays, check your outdoor fixtures. Make sure to disconnect any outdoor hoses from your plumbing to make sure they don’t freeze as temperatures continue to drop.
- Insulate your pipes. As the colder weather begins, it is a good idea to insulate your pipes! Even though this seems like a simple task, it is important to hire a licensed professional to wrap up your pipes, as they know which ones need to be insulated and will utilize the proper tape and insulation. Something as simple as insulating your pipes could prevent you from having a plumbing emergency during the holidays!
Calling a professional plumber is a great way to make sure your plumbing system is running smoothly, allowing you to focus less on the possibility of a holiday mishap and more on your family and friends.
Do you need a plumber around the holidays in Cypress, TX? We’re happy to help. Give Show Plumbing a call at (281) 860-2000, and we’ll get your plumbing issues taken care of.