5 Plumbing Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas
With the holiday season in full swing, no one wants to deal with sudden, expensive plumbing-related repairs. End unwanted stress this Christmas by taking a few preventative measures.
Fix the Drips
Even if you know that you must press down on a faucet handle to prevent drips, or jiggle a toilet handle to make it stop running, your holiday guests might forget if you tell them. As a huge water bill can ruin holiday shopping and vacation plans, repair these types of drips. Additionally, repair dripping pipes and water hoses attached to sinks and appliances.
Prevent Drain Clogs
According to EZ Plumbing Inc, one of the biggest problems you might face during the holidays is a difficult drain clog you can’t clear. To prevent these clogs, make certain that you and your guests follow a few simple rules. Never use the drain for disposal of foodstuffs known to cause clogs, such as stringy vegetables, peels or grease/oils and use a drain screen. To maintain clear pipes, use a commercial drain cleaner at least once a month on each drain.
Insulate the Pipes
Your pipes, like the human body, require protection when exposed to cold temperature as water in them can freeze, expand and then burst the pipes leaving you with a horrible mess when you come home from a party or vacation. The pipes can also become brittle and crack on their own. Wrap your pipes in insulation sleeves to help create a barrier against the cold.
Maintain Indoor Temperature
Of course, insulation alone isn’t enough to prevent frozen pipes. If you’re only going to be away from your home for a few hours, set your thermostat to 55 F and open doors to under sink areas so the heat reaches the pipes. If you have a basement, open basement air vents or the basement door to allow the heat to reach it.
Drain the Water
If you’re leaving home for days or longer, the best way to prevent a disaster, besides maintaining a warmer indoor temperature, is by making sure none of the pipes have water in them. Drain your hot water heater and turn off its power supply. When finished, shut off the water leading to toilets and flush them. Lastly, turn on all of the faucets and shut off the water valves.
As you can see, there’s no reason your plumbing has to give you nightmares this holiday season.