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Hosting friends and family over the holidays is a joyful part of the season, but it can also cause excessive strain on your home’s plumbing system. Elaborate meals and a house full of out-of-town family members can wreak havoc on your kitchen sink, garbage disposal, toilets, and bathroom drains.
Sudden and unexpected plumbing clogs and backups can severely impede the smooth flow of holiday festivities. Knowing what should and shouldn’t go down your drains (and reminding guests) can help avoid unwanted plumbing surprises. Here’s a quick guide to what not to put down your drains and why you should schedule a professional drain cleaning in Bonita Springs.
Common Kitchen Drain Mistakes
In a bustling holiday kitchen, it’s easy for things to slip into the sink that shouldn’t be there. However, many common items can spell trouble for your drains.
- Fat, Oil, and Grease (FOGs): Putting leftover grease or oil down the drain is one of the worst things you can do. They solidify as they cool, sticking to the walls of your pipes and leading to blockages. Over time, the build-up narrows the drain, eventually causing slow flow and backups.
- Fibrous or Starchy Foods: Foods like celery, potato peels, and onion skins may seem fine for the garbage disposal, but their fibrous textures can be problematic. Fibrous foods tend to get tangled in the blades, while starchy foods expand in water, forming a sticky paste that can clog the pipes.
- Coffee Grounds: Many people think coffee grounds are harmless since they’re small and gritty. However, they tend to clump together in drains and can cause stubborn blockages.
Bathroom Do’s and Don’ts
Holiday guests mean extra usage of the bathrooms, making communication about what shouldn’t go down the toilet essential.
- “Flushable” Wipes and Hygiene Products: Despite being marketed as “flushable,” most wipes don’t break down quickly in water and can cause serious clogs. Hygiene products like cotton balls, dental floss, feminine hygiene items, and Q-tips can lead to blockages.
- Hair: Hair is notorious for clogging drains as it tangles and forms clumps, especially in bathroom sinks and shower drains. A drain protector can keep hair out of your drains.
- Excess Toilet Paper: Consider placing a note near the toilet as a gentle reminder that using large amounts of toilet paper can overwhelm plumbing.
Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning Before the Holidays
Professional drain cleaning goes beyond removing visible clogs; it addresses buildup throughout the entire drainage system. By clearing out accumulated grease, food particles, hair, and other debris, you reduce the risk of backups and unexpected clogs when your drains are under the most pressure. Not only that, but preventative drain cleaning is beneficial long after the holidays are over.
Professional cleaning restores drains to their optimal flow, making them much more efficient during high-traffic periods. Clean drains are better able to handle sudden influxes of water and waste, reducing the likelihood of water backups. By addressing drains in advance, you can focus on your guests and festivities instead of worrying about unexpected repairs or overflows.
It’s No Sweat: Call Bayonet! Contact Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule drain cleaning in Bonita Springs, FL today!