The holidays are a time when many people like to get together with friends and family. Since our winters in Rochester can be so cold and sometimes dreary, it’s nice to celebrate together while being warm, cozy, and comfortable. Unfortunately, there are times when we’ve been called out because plumbing emergencies have ruined our customers’ holiday gatherings. If you don’t want to be facing an emergency when you have guests over, follow these tips to make problems less likely to occur.
Keep Your Drains Free of Clogs
When a lot of people are in your home, and you’re spending most of your time indoors, your plumbing system is going to be put through a test. There are three things to keep in mind as you try to prevent any issues from arising.
- Be gentle with your garbage disposal. It’s not meant for sticky, hard, or fibrous items. If you scrape your dishes, pots, and pans clean before rinsing them in your sink, you should be able to avoid problems.
- Make sure only human waste and toilet paper are flushed down your toilets. Anything else can back things up.
- Dump grease and fat in the trash, not the sink. It may seem like your sink can handle these materials, but it really can’t.
Keep Your Pipes From Freezing
Winter temperatures in Rochester can drop below zero, so you need to be proactive about protecting your pipes and faucets from freezing. Before the cold settles in, be sure to drain any outside water lines and shut off their water supply. Assess whether any of the pipes inside your home are along exterior walls. This makes them more vulnerable to the frigid temperatures. You could have these pipes insulated, and leaving your faucets dripping overnight can keep the water moving and hopefully prevent freezing. Also, open up any cabinets that have pipes in them so that the heat from your home isn’t blocked from making contact with the pipes.
Have Your Water Heater Maintained
When water heaters are pushed to their limits by houseguests taking showers, doing laundry, and washing their dishes, they may experience some issues. Issues could include not having enough hot water, having water that’s warm but not not, and not having any hot or warm water at all. To keep your water heater in good condition, you can have it looked over by a professional plumber. At Nichols Electric and Plumbing, we offer water heater maintenance services. We can drain and flush your tank to get rid of sediment that may be interfering with the efficiency of your water heater. We can also make sure all of the components are working correctly.
Following these tips can be a smart move if you don’t want any unfortunate surprises during your holiday event. Call Nichols Electric and Plumbing for more information.