The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and precious moments with loved ones. The last thing you want is a household drain disaster disrupting your festivities. Clogs, sewer backups, and costly repairs could quickly turn your holiday cheer into holiday frustration.
Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. By following our Holiday Drain Survival Guide for your kitchen and bathroom, you can protect your drains and keep everything flowing smoothly this season. Stay ahead of holiday plumbing problems with our handy guide below.
Related: Why You Need Professional Drain Cleaning Services
Holiday Drain Survival: Kitchen Sink Drains and Garbage Disposals
Between preparing festive meals and hosting dinner parties, your kitchen sink and garbage disposal work overtime during the holiday season. However, despite their usefulness, they’re not indestructible. Certain items and leftovers can wreak havoc on your drains! Knowing what not to put down your sink is the first step to avoiding clogs and backups.
Avoid these common kitchen sink drain offenders:
- Grease, Fats, and Oils
You may think that pouring bacon grease or leftover cooking oil down the sink is harmless, but these substances solidify as they cool. Over time, they can build up in your pipes, causing blockages that restrict water flow.
Tip: Instead of pouring grease down the drain, allow it to cool and solidify, then dispose of it in the trash. - Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are notorious for sticking together, forming clumps in the elbows and bends of your pipes that lead to slow drainage or complete blockages.
Tip: Toss coffee grounds in the compost bin or trash instead of the sink. - Eggshells
While they seem harmless, eggshells can be problematic for your garbage disposal. The membrane inside the shell can wrap around blades, while the hard shell fragments may settle in your pipes.
Tip: Compost eggshells or throw them in the trash. - Bones and Fibrous Foods
Hard materials like poultry bones or fibrous foods like celery, corn husks, and potato peels can strain your garbage disposal or clog your pipes.
Tip: Dispose of these items in the trash or compost. - Starchy Leftovers
Foods like rice, pasta, and potatoes swell when exposed to water, turning into a sticky substance that can block your pipes.
Tip: Scrape plates into the trash or compost to keep your sink running smoothly.
By keeping these common culprits out of your kitchen sink, you’re one step closer to a worry-free holiday season.
Related: How to Fix a Clogged Kitchen Drain
Holiday Drain Survival: Bathroom Drains
With extra guests visiting over the holidays, your bathroom drains will likely get more use than usual. To keep things flowing smoothly, be mindful of what goes down the sink, toilet, and bathtub.
Avoid these common holiday culprits:
- Hair
Hair is a leading cause of clogged bathroom drains, as it tangles and collects inside the pipes, creating blockages over time.
Tip: Use a drain cover to catch hair before it enters the drain, and clean out the cover regularly. - “Flushable” Wipes
Contrary to their labeling, flushable wipes don’t break down as easily as toilet paper. They often accumulate in pipes, leading to stubborn clogs.
Tip: Dispose of wipes in the trash rather than the toilet. - Hygiene Products
Items like sanitary pads, tampons, and cotton balls can swell and block your plumbing when flushed.
Tip: Use a designated trash bin for hygiene products. - Soap Scum
Soap can harden as it cools in your pipes, especially when combined with hair and other debris.
Tip: Switch to liquid soap or use a mesh drain trap to minimize soap buildup. - Excessive Toilet Paper
While toilet paper is designed to break down in water, using an excessive amount can overwhelm your plumbing system.
Tip: Encourage guests to use a reasonable amount of toilet paper, and remind younger children not to overload the toilet.
A little prevention goes a long way in keeping your bathroom drains in top condition throughout the holidays.
Related: How to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain
Keep Your Plumbing Flowing This Holiday Season
Your home is the heart of holiday celebrations, and a well-maintained plumbing system ensures everything runs without a hitch. Use our Holiday Drain Survival Guide to help protect your kitchen and bathroom drains.
But if your drains do run into trouble, don’t stress—our team is here to help. Whether for an emergency clog or a quick seasonal checkup, Wizard Plumbing and Drain has the tools and expertise to get your drains back in shape.
Contact us today to ensure your holiday fun stays stress-free (and clog-free)!
