If we can, we’re always happy to help our customers avoid any major issues with their living space—particularly, their plumbing. This has got to be one of the worst times of the years to have to deal with a plumbing problem after all. Although, there never really is a convenient time to have a plumbing problem!

That probably sounds like an ad for an antacid, but bear with us. We’re referring to the threat holiday meals bring to your kitchen sink.

One of the most common plumbing problems we get called for this time of the year is kitchen sink clogs. There are many potential causes for this. Certain food items, for example, go down the drain that never should, even if you have a garbage disposal system in place. This includes celery stalks, corn husks, potato skins, and hard foods such as fruit pits—these should all be dumped in the trash rather than into your sink drain.

Another common nemesis to the kitchen sink is FOG—that is, Fats, Oil, and Grease. What happens with FOG is that it hardens up as it cools down. So, even if your sink doesn’t automatically clog up due to FOG, the continuous dumping for FOG down the drain eventually builds up to create a huge mess that could have been prevented.

Lastly, foods that expand with water need to stay out of your kitchen sink. This includes rice, beans, bread, pasta, and even coffee grounds. Items like these are essentially sponges, and when they’re saturated with water, they can easily clog up your drain.

Whether you’re hosting a party or just having some family over for a weekend over the holiday season, your bathroom may suffer. We say this because certain things can happen, such as people flushing trash down the toilet, children using too much toilet paper or knocking something down into the toilet, or even having your hot water run out because of increased demand. The latter doesn’t usually lead to a plumbing emergency, but it is important to be aware of, which we’ll get to right now.

Yes, your hot water can run out due to the increased demand that holiday guests bring onto your home. However, this is not the only threat to your water heater during this time of the year. The cold air that comes along with winter causes expansion and contraction in your water heater, and in an older system this can cause fractures and leaks. In severe cases, it can even lead to flooding. Having maintenance done each year it the #1 way to protect your water heater and make sure it’s ready to effectively do its job for another year.

The post With the Holidays around the Corner, Protect Your Plumbing first appeared on Brooks Plumbing Co..