Be Holiday-Hosting Ready
Quick answer
Keep grease, coffee grounds, rice and peels out of the kitchen sink. Keep everything except toilet paper out of the toilet. Space out showers and dishwasher loads so your drains and hot water keep up. And find your main water shut-off before the guests arrive, just in case.
Why December is hard on your plumbing
December is a magical time: family dinners, overnight guests and busy kitchens. But it's also the month your plumbing takes the biggest beating. More cooking, more showers, more flushing and more dishes all add up, and drains that were "a little slow" in November can back up completely with a full house.
In the kitchen: keep things flowing
- Never pour grease down the sink. Turkey drippings and cooking fat harden in your pipes. Let grease cool in a can or jar and put it in the garbage.
- Keep tricky scraps out of the drain. Coffee grounds, rice, pasta and stringy peels (potato, celery) are the worst offenders.
- Run cold water with the garburator for a few seconds before and after.
- Use a sink strainer to catch food before it goes down.
- Space out dishwasher loads so they don't run at the same time as showers or laundry.
In the bathroom: avoid a holiday "blockbuster"
- Don't flush "flushable" wipes. They don't break down like toilet paper and snag in your pipes.
- Put a garbage can where guests can see it, so they're not tempted to flush things that don't belong.
- Make your hot water last. Space out showers, keep them a little shorter, and consider a low-flow showerhead.
- Know your water heater. Most tanks are set around 60°C to keep bacteria out. If you have little ones or older guests, ask us about an anti-scald valve so the water at the tap stays at a safe temperature.
What you can safely check yourself
- Slow drains: run each sink and tub for a minute. If water pools, get it cleared before guests arrive.
- Toilets: listen for one that keeps running, and jiggle the handle. A running toilet can waste a lot of water.
- Dripping taps: fix them now, before they become a bigger problem.
- Plungers: keep one in every bathroom, so no one has to come and ask.
- Main water shut-off: find it, and make sure it turns.
If something goes wrong: For a burst pipe or an overflowing toilet that won't stop, turn off the water at the fixture valve or the main shut-off first. Then call us. If water is near outlets or appliances, stay out of it and don't touch switches.
When to call a professional
Call a licensed plumber if:
- A drain is still slow after plunging
- More than one drain backs up at the same time
- Water comes up in the floor drain when the dishwasher or washer empties
- You find a leak under a sink or around a toilet
- You run out of hot water much faster than usual
How SS Plumbing & Heating handles it
We clear the clog properly and, if it keeps coming back, find out why. Our drain camera lets us see inside the line, so you know whether it's grease, roots or a damaged pipe. We'll give you a clear price before we start.
Plumbing emergencies don't take holidays, and neither do we. We offer 24/7 emergency service, with any after-hours charge quoted upfront.
A Few Questions We Get a Lot
Is it OK to pour grease down the drain with hot water? No. Hot water only moves the grease further down the pipe, where it cools and hardens. More in Why Does the Same Drain Keep Backing Up?
Why do we keep running out of hot water when we have guests? A tank only holds so much. Space out showers, and if it's running out faster than it used to, your tank may need service. See Should I Repair or Replace My Hot Water Tank?
What should I do first if I find a leak? Shut off the water, then call. Our guide Found a Leak? What to Do First walks you through it.
Plumbing trouble with a full house?
If a drain backs up or a pipe starts leaking during the holidays, call or text us. We'll get things flowing again.
Call or Text 780-995-4140 | Book Drain Cleaning| Learn more about drain cleaning →
About Steve
Steve St. Louis is a Red Seal Journeyman Plumber and Gasfitter (Class B) and the owner of SS Plumbing & Heating Ltd. Based in Sturgeon County, Steve and his team have served Edmonton and area since 2020, with 24/7 emergency service and a 5.0 rating from 450+ Google reviews.