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May 13,2025

Tips On How To Prevent Holiday Plumbing Problems

As you prepare for the holiday season, the last thing on your mind is your plumbing. This is a common mistake homeowners make. Here at Mr. Rooter Plumbing—a leading plumbing service—we see an upturn in emergency service calls during the holiday season. Nothing is more frustrating than facing plumbing problems during the festive season. Fortunately, it takes a little extra precaution to prevent most of the common holiday plumbing problems.

  • Be Mindful in the Kitchen

Holiday cooking involves lots of rich foods, oils, and leftovers—and your kitchen plumbing feels the impact. One of the biggest mistakes people make is pouring grease, fat, or oil down the drain. These substances may go down as liquids, but they solidify in the pipes, leading to stubborn clogs. Instead, pour grease into a container and throw it away once it cools and hardens.

Also, avoid putting fibrous or starchy food scraps like potato peels, celery, or pasta into the garbage disposal. These items can jam the blades or create a thick paste that clogs your drain. Scrape plates into the trash or compost bin before rinsing them in the sink, and always run cold water when using your garbage disposal to help solidify and push food waste through the pipes.

  • Give Your Water Heater a Checkup

When guests are staying over, your water heater works overtime. If it’s already struggling to keep up or hasn't been serviced in a while, now’s the time to flush the tank and inspect it for any signs of wear. Flushing removes sediment that can reduce efficiency and shorten the lifespan of the unit. If your water heater is nearing the end of its lifespan (usually around 10-15 years), consider scheduling a professional inspection with a licensed plumber to ensure it won’t let you down during the holidays.

  • Don’t Overload the Toilets

Extra guests mean your bathrooms are getting more use. Remind visitors not to flush anything other than toilet paper—no wipes, feminine products, paper towels, or other items. Even “flushable” wipes can cause major blockages in residential plumbing systems. Keep a waste bin in the bathroom so guests aren’t tempted to flush inappropriate items.

Also, consider staggering shower times if you have a full house. It’s also a good idea to give your drains and hot water tank time to recover between uses to prevent overloading the system.

  • Address Slow Drains in Advance

If you’ve noticed any sinks, tubs, or showers draining slowly, don’t wait for them to become completely clogged during your holiday gathering. Handle slow drains before your guests arrive. You can try using a plunger or a drain snake, or call a plumber to inspect and clear the lines if needed. Taking care of small issues now can prevent bigger problems later.

Common Plumbing Issues During Holidays

  • Clogged kitchen drains
  • Backed-up garbage disposal
  • Toilet clogs
  • Water heater overload
  • Slow or clogged bathroom drains
  • Frozen pipes
  • Leaky faucets or running toilets
  • Sewer line backups

Schedule Plumbing Maintenance Today

Mr. Rooter Plumbing is the plumbing service you can count on when you have a plumbing problem. From clogged drains to broken sewer lines, water leaks, broken garbage disposals, and failing sump pumps, our licensed professionals are equipped to handle it all with skill and efficiency. As a locally owned and operated plumbing company, Mr. Rooter Plumbing has delivered dependable plumbing services to homeowners and businesses. Our plumbers are qualified, experienced, and insured, and we offer emergency services to provide you with the help you need urgently. Contact us if you’re experiencing plumbing problems in your home.

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