The holidays are often the busiest time of year for plumbers. Sometimes issues can arise when you are not home, or because you have too many people in your home. Here are a few tips to reduce your chances of becoming victim to frozen pipes and common clogs:
-If travelling for the holidays, do not turn your heat below 60. It's also a good idea to turn your water off at the main shut off valve - if a leak should occur while you are gone, this will minimize the damage.
-Try not to put any fats, oils or fibrous/tough materials (including sweet potatoes, egg shells and poultry skins) down your drain or into your garbage disposal.
-Turn your disposal on before throwing any food scraps into it. Also let your disposal run for at least 10-15 seconds before and after using it to be sure that all of the food waste has flushed through.
-Avoid using flushable wipes - they are often not as 'flushable' as the manufacturer makes them out to be and can commonly cause backups.
-Keep a trash can nearby toilets and make sure it's visible to discourage guests from flushing unwanted items.
