Thanksgiving is the single busiest day for residential plumbers! Since big turkey dinners are around the corner, we wanted to share 7 tips to save your pipes from plumbing disasters.
- Use a sink strainer. This will help catch the majority of food pieces keeping your pipes free and clear.
- Don’t put your leftovers down the drain. With all the greasy foods, you’ll almost certainly clog your pipes, even if you have a garbage disposal.
- Turn on your garbage disposal BEFORE putting anything in it. ALWAYS run cold water while the disposal is running.
- No stringy, starchy, or slimy ingredients down the drain. These items cause a build up which will lead to clogged pipes.
- Never dispose of oils down your sink. As grease cools, it congeals and becomes solid. Properly dispose grease in a coffee can or mason jar and throw in the garbage can.
- Start your dishwasher after you’ve finished using your garbage disposal. Since they both share the same drain, food waste can end up in the wash cycle.
- Make sure wet wipes stay out of the toilet. This tip isn’t for the kitchen, but most of our clogged toilet calls can be avoided by making sure no one flushes things that shouldn’t be flushed. That includes facial tissues, feminine products, paper towels, wet wipes, makeup removers, etc.
Clogs happen. We want to remind you to “just say NO to Drano!” Chemicals down your drain pipes can cause more costly damage and be harmful.
Through the years, we’ve recommended this simple DIY tip for removing clogs and have saved many of our valued customers a service call.
Our Easy 3-Step Recipe
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- Pot of boiling water
Mix the salt and soda. Slowly pour down clogged drain. Follow with slowly pouring boiling water in the drain. Repeat if necessary. If clog persists, give us a call. We’ll gladly come out to fix the situation.
