Be Holiday Hosting Ready (because plumbing emergencies don’t take holidays!)

Be Holiday-Hosting Ready (Because Plumbing Emergencies Don’t Take Holidays!)

December is a magical time—family dinners, cozy gatherings, overnight guests, and busy kitchens. But it’s also the month when your home’s plumbing takes the biggest beating. More cooking, more showers, more flushing, and more dishes all add up. A little preparation (and a few smart habits) can save you from a holiday disaster.

🌟 In the Kitchen: Keep Things Flowing Smoothly

The kitchen is the heart of holiday hosting, and it’s also the number one place where winter plumbing issues start.

✔ Don’t pour grease down the sink

Grease from turkey, ham, bacon, and gravy thickens as it cools, coating pipes and causing blockages. Always let it solidify and throw it in the garbage.

✔ Keep coffee grounds, rice, and pasta away from drains

• Coffee grounds clump together like wet sand.

• Rice and pasta expand with water and create glue-like blockages.

• Fibrous veggies (celery, potato peels, onion skins) wrap around garbage disposal blades.

✔ Run cold water when using the garburator

Cold water keeps fats solid so the blades can chop them instead of turning everything into sticky paste. Run the water before, during, and after using the disposal to help flush debris through the line.

✔ Use a sink strainer

A simple strainer can stop 90% of accidental debris before it ever hits the pipes.

✔ Give your dishwasher a break between loads

Holiday cooking means full dishwashers. Spacing out cycles helps maintain water pressure and drainage.

🌟 In the Bathroom: Avoid Holiday “Blockbuster” Plumbing Issues

More guests means more bathroom traffic—and more opportunities for clogs and cold showers.

✔ “Flushable” wipes are not flushable

Despite the name, they don’t break down like toilet paper and often get stuck in bends and joints of the plumbing system. Toss them in the garbage instead.

✔ Keep a trash can in plain sight

Guests are less likely to flush things they shouldn’t if a wastebasket is easy to find.

✔ Space out showers to maintain hot water

If your hot water tank is working overtime:

• Wait 10–15 minutes between showers.

• Ask guests to take shorter showers or use a lower temperature.

• Turn up the thermostat on the hot water tank slightly (but stay below 49°C to prevent scalding).

✔ Consider switching to a low-flow showerhead

It saves water and keeps your hot water supply lasting longer.

✔ Remind kids (and guests!) what not to flush

This includes wipes, cotton pads, paper towels, feminine products, Q-tips, and toy surprises.

🌟 Bonus Tips for Overnight Guests

If you’re hosting multiple people:

• Check for slow drains before guests arrive.

• Place a plunger in every bathroom—this avoids awkward holiday moments.

• Check for dripping faucets or running toilets, which can worsen with extra use.

• Show guests where the extra towels and toiletries are to prevent excess flushing or sink misuse