It’s the day of your big annual holiday gathering. Your nieces and nephews are running around the house, dodging in and out and all around you while you try to keep dinner on track. Periodically, your in-laws offer help, working hard to keep the dishes from piling up. Your spouse tries to keep the chaos from continuing to spill into the kitchen. You already know that holiday gatherings are busy yet joyful occasions. They’re also the last time you’d want your kitchen to suffer a plumbing emergency. The good news is there’s a way to help prevent that. As the local leader in plumbing services, our team here at F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is ready to assist you. Let’s look at some holiday plumbing tips to keep your home running smoothly before, during, and after the holidays.
Why Holiday Cooking Strains Your Kitchen Plumbing
Your kitchen likely sees its most frequent use during the holiday season. This is when you’re most likely to prepare large meals for your extended family. Unfortunately, all that extra cooking really adds stress to your kitchen plumbing. There is likely an increase in fats, oils, food scraps, and other waste going down your kitchen sink drain. You may also experience a sharp spike in water usage.
This extra strain can exacerbate plumbing problems or create entirely new ones. When problems strike, it can derail your holiday plans. Plus, a minor issue can rapidly turn into an emergency that can’t wait until after the holidays to address. Basic preventive measures are easier and cheaper than post-holiday repairs.
Common Kitchen Plumbing Issues During the Holidays
Combatting common holiday kitchen plumbing issues begins with knowledge. The most common problem in kitchens during the holidays is clogged drains. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including that some extra-large food scraps may inadvertently enter the drain while you cook. However, even if you’re extra careful, the surge of additional grease and fats can develop into a clog faster than you might think.
Pipe leaks are another problem that occurs during the holidays. Your kitchen drain may develop a leak along with a clog. Or it may simply start leaking due to the sudden increase in water flow. It can even result from an increase in food waste coming from your garbage disposal. Speaking of which, garbage disposal malfunctions are also common during the holiday season. It’s another result of a sudden spike in your garbage disposal usage. Any of the above problems is serious, and all can escalate quickly in severity if you ignore them.
The Hidden Danger of Fats, Oils, and Grease
You should never pour grease or cooking oils down the drain. Oil and water don’t mix. When you pour liquid grease or cooking oil into your drain, it won’t dilute. It will move with wastewater and travel deeper into your plumbing. Then, when it cools, it will develop into a clog. This sticky mass can lead to the accumulation of other debris as it passes down your drain.
Instead of pouring them down the drain, store cooking oils or grease in a suitable container. Then, when it solidifies, throw it in the trash. If you’ve previously made a habit of putting those substances into your drains, pipe and drain cleaning is necessary. A professional drain cleaning from F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can remove years of buildup in your drains without harming your pipes.
Protecting Your Garbage Disposal From Holiday Abuse
If you want to keep your garbage disposal going strong all year, you need to know what items to keep out of it. Homeowners are often shocked to discover the long list of things that shouldn’t go into a garbage disposal. The list of items to avoid includes:
- Potato peels
- Eggshells
- Fibrous vegetables
- Coffee grounds
- Pasta and rice
- Fruit pits
Putting these items into your garbage disposal can jam or burn out its motor. If your garbage disposal decides to quit over the holidays, don’t panic. F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can repair any make or model garbage disposal. When a repair isn’t an option, we can provide a prompt replacement.
Preventing Drain Clogs Before They Happen
There are simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of a clogged drain. The simplest is to use a sink strainer. This simple device will keep food debris out of your drains, eliminating a common cause of clogs. You should also run your hot water for some time after cleaning any greasy utensils or pans in your sink. This will help prevent the grease from solidifying until it exits your plumbing. In the same vein, try to avoid letting starchy or fibrous foods go down your drain. They create some of the most stubborn clogs that you don’t want to deal with.
Additionally, you’d do well to schedule preemptive drain cleanings before any big holiday gatherings. Our professional drain cleaning services can ensure your home’s drains won’t cause unwelcome surprises.
Signs You Need Professional Plumbing Help
It’s wise to learn some of the warning signs of plumbing issues. With this knowledge, you can take preemptive action to avoid problems over the holidays. One of the first signs you may notice is a slow-moving drain. This likely indicates a clog is forming in your pipes. Bubbling sounds or foul odors from your drains are often the next symptoms to appear. You should also look out for unusual sounds, such as humming, from your garbage disposal. These sounds likely indicate a jam or a motor issue. If any such symptoms appear, contact F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for preventive repairs before your next family gathering.
DIY Fixes vs. Professional Service
We know that the average homeowner often tries to fix minor plumbing issues themselves. However, some things are best left to the professionals at F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. For example, it’s fine to try using a plunger to resolve a minor clog or to press your garbage disposal reset button when necessary. However, you shouldn’t resort to using any unnecessary force on your pipes or disposal. Instead, let the experts here at F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling solve your plumbing problem for you. We can do so without damaging your plumbing in the process.
How Preventive Maintenance Saves Time and Stress
Avoiding a backed-up drain or leaking pipe can prevent damage to your home, undue stress, and unnecessary expense. F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers reliable maintenance programs and repair services to help you keep your plumbing in top shape.
Eco-Friendly Tips for Kitchen Cleanup
There are some eco-friendly ways you can keep your kitchen plumbing in good working order. One is to compost food scraps instead of relying so much on your garbage disposal. You can also switch to biodegradable soaps to prevent harm to your pipes and the environment. Whatever you do, never use chemical drain cleaners. They often do more harm than good, as they lead to corrosion on the inside of your pipes. F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling works hard to offer safe, environmentally friendly plumbing services to help you in your efforts.
The F.F. Hitchcock Advantage
F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been serving the Cheshire, CT community since 1870. Decades of experience give us an unmatched depth of experience. Our plumbers specialize in drain cleaning, garbage disposal repair, and plumbing repair. You can count on us for plumbing help before, during, and after the holidays. We also offer fast emergency responses for your peace of mind.
Request Kitchen Plumbing Repair
The bottom line is that prevention is the best way to avoid holiday kitchen plumbing disasters in Cheshire. Before your family arrives, have us stop over for a pre-holiday plumbing inspection or a drain cleaning. You can reach us at (203) 350-8546 or schedule service online. Contact F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today so that we can help make your holiday gathering in Cheshire a success.
