As the holiday season is fast approaching, expect your house to be filled with many family members and even some guests. This means that your bathrooms will be frequently abused, and your kitchen will be constantly occupied for food preparation. If you and your family aren’t wary during this time of the year, your plumbing system can be easily compromised, where you might encounter some clogged drains, broken pipes, or, worst, basement flooding.
If you want to keep your home safe for the holidays, we’ve prepared a practical guide on how to prepare your plumbing system. Here are three home areas to be on the lookout for:
1. Bathroom
As mentioned above, your bathrooms will be constantly used during the holiday. During this time of year, you can expect more people to be at home. As a result, the more people are in the house, the more this area will be utilized.
Because of this, you must be sure that your plumbing pipes, fixtures, and other components are all working properly and optimally. If you think there are some minor damages, immediately get them fixed so that they won’t escalate into bigger issues. Also, orient the whole household members on the bathroom’s proper use and inform them that only three Ps are allowed to be flushed down the pipes—pee, poo, and paper (toilet paper).
2. Kitchen
The kitchen will also be the most utilized part of the house during the holiday season, as you’ll have to prepare and cook lots of food. During this period, it’s easy for family members to pour grease down the drain and throw leftovers in the kitchen sink. If this continues for an extended period, your pipes will quickly be accumulated with debris and lead to clogged drains.
For this reason, be sure to have proper disposal of garbage in your kitchen. First, remind your members and guests never to pour grease and throw food debris in the kitchen drain, as you don’t want to be confronted with wastewater that backs up in the kitchen sink. Also, install strainers or baskets to filter food particles and other debris. Finally, have your plumbing fixtures and fitting in the kitchen checked and fixed if necessary.
3. Basement and outdoors
Your plumbing parts and fixtures in the basement and the outdoor areas will be the most vulnerable during the cold winter months. For instance, if the water pipes aren’t insulated, they might burst out during extreme weather conditions. Also, your washer and dryer will have to work hard during this time of the year because of more occupants at home.
This is why you must inspect and maintain your outdoor plumbing pipes and fixtures before the winter. In doing so, be sure that your water pipes are properly insulated. Also, ensure that your washer and dryer are in good shape and condition. Finally, getting an expert plumber to check your outdoor system will make all the difference in preparing it for the holidays!
Conclusion
At this point, you now know the three home areas to inspect and maintain to prepare your plumbing system for the holiday season—bathroom, kitchen, basement, and outdoors. Remember that it’s best to have a plumbing inspection and maintenance before the winter season officially starts. By doing so, you’ll ensure that your plumbing system will be in top shape and working condition and that you’ll avoid any mishap during this crucial time of the year!
Are you in need of plumbing services to prepare your pipes for the winter? Let us help you find the best plumbers in Charlotte! Whether you need plumbing repair, maintenance, or installation services, be sure to browse our website to get a list of local plumbing experts!