HELP YOUR DRAINS SURVIVE THESE SCENARIOS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

If you want to make it through to the New Year without backing up a drain or otherwise clogging your plumbing, you'll have to be more conscious than usual about what goes down into the pipes. Discover some scenarios where you might want to be extra careful with your drains this holiday season. 

A Thanksgiving Feast, a holiday ham, and chocolate chip cookies for Santa. The holidays always involve people cooking, roasting, or baking. All of this sounds delicious, of course, but it can come with consequences for your kitchen drain if you're not careful, such as grease. 

Never, ever dump your cooking grease into the kitchen sink. The thick, sticky liquid will coat the insides of your plumbing and start catching other food bits that make it into the drain. Over time, this gunk will build up and you'll either have a very slow drain or one that actively backs up. 

For best results, dump your grease into an empty jug or coffee can, put a lid on it, and then place it into the trash. This will keep your cooking grease out of the drain while also making for easy cleanup after every meal. 

If you plan to host holiday parties at your home, you'll have some guests who want to use the toilet throughout the day, especially if you have alcohol. If your plumbing connects to a septic system, make sure all guests know that they should not flush anything down the drain besides waste and toilet paper.  

Keep a small trash can with a lid nearby for sanitary napkins, tampons, or anything else your guest might need to discreetly get rid of. This will allow people to take care of business without putting your toilet or plumbing into jeopardy. 

If you will have family at your house during Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas week, that's potentially a lot of people who will all need to take a shower or bath to get clean. This could lead to more body hair than normal going down the drain. Invest in a drain-gate to catch body hair before it has a chance to go down. 

Another consideration, if applicable, is that you don't want all of that water to flood your septic system. Try to space out your showers throughout the day, if possible. 

With all of the cooking and the arrival of house guests, you will also frequently use your dishwasher and clothes washer. The same concept applies here as with the showers. Try to space out the loads so your septic system has time to recover. 

The holidays are a time of year to gather with family and friends, but all of those gatherings can lead to extra stress on your plumbing and drainage systems. Make sure all house guests are properly educated about what can and cannot go down the drain. Pay special attention to your water usage as well if you have a septic system. 

Art Douglas Plumbing Inc. has served the Fresno and Clovis area for more than 45 years. Our experienced plumbers have the tools and equipment needed to quickly respond to any plumbing issue, including a clogged drain. Don't let a clog ruin your next holiday party or gathering. Contact us today for a speedy resolution.