When you’re gathering with friends and family this holiday season, don’t let a drain clog ruin your holiday spirit or plans. Preventive maintenance can keep pipes clear, protect your plumbing system, and reduce the risk of damage to your home.
Schedule Preventive Drain Cleaning
It’s beneficial to schedule preventive drain cleaning once per year. If holiday clogs are a concern, set this appointment up right before the holiday season. If there is debris built up in your pipes, drain snakes, augers, and hydro jetting will break it apart. Mineral deposits from hard water can also form over time, narrowing pipes and promoting clogs.
Avoid using chemical drain cleaners in your home’s plumbing system. They may work, but they contain chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and bleach. These chemicals are caustic to your pipes and can corrode them over time.
Use Drain Covers
Prevent large items from going down your drain by using drain covers. Debris like hair, food scraps, and garbage will collect in the cover, which you can clean periodically.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Prior to the start of the holidays and in between gatherings, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in your drains. Allow this mixture to sit inside drains for 30 to 60 minutes. This is ample time for clogs to break apart. Flush your drains with hot water, which will move the debris out and away from your home.
Educate Guests on Proper Use
If you have people staying overnight at your residence, politely educate them on how to use your plumbing system. Direct them to garbage cans in your kitchen and bathrooms. Let them know that they should avoid putting certain items down your drains.
Pre-Holiday Plumbing Inspection
In addition to routine drain cleaning, have a professional inspect your plumbing system annually. This allows for minor repairs to occur before they cause clogs or catastrophic issues. If there are problematic drains in your home, modifications may be made to avoid future problems.
Be Careful What Goes Down
It’s easy to forget what should and should not go down your drains when you’re in the middle of a holiday party. However, items like coffee grounds, eggshells, starchy foods, and fibrous vegetables can all quickly lead to clogs. Also, grease, fats and oils can build up in your pipes and make it easier for other items to get stuck. Always scrape dishes into the garbage can before washing them.
Keep holiday plumbing maintenance at the top of your to-do list. Contact us at E Dennis AC Inc. in Newnan, GA for more information on preventive drain cleaning or to schedule an appointment.
