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Summary:
- Holiday plumbing disasters are so common that Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for most professional plumbers. Increased demand from holiday meal prep and guests raises the risk for minor troubles to turn into more serious problems.
- Inspecting fixtures like toilets, sinks, showers, garbage disposals, and other appliances in advance can help you spot looming problems before they become a crisis. It also ensures you have time to make any necessary repairs.
- It’s especially important to be on the lookout for common warning symptoms, like garbage disposal or flushing noises, slow drains, or water dripping from pipes. These can be a red flag for problems that may become serious when guests arrive.
- Cleaning out and deodorizing drains can lower your risk for clogs. It’s also a great way to ensure bathrooms smell fresh.
- If you find any problems, don’t panic—that’s the goal! Find out if a DIY fix will work, or reach out to a plumber for help.
Picture this: it’s Thanksgiving. You’re sitting around the dining table with your loved ones getting ready to carve into the turkey and share an incredible meal. Suddenly, your toilet clogs and sewage starts flowing into your bathroom. Or—worse yet—it backs up into your kitchen sink.
No one wants to experience a plumbing emergency on a special occasion, but the festive season is the busiest time of year for plumbers. The sudden increase in demand from guests and meal prep can turn a minor issue into an all-out crisis without warning. Stay ahead of holiday plumbing disasters this year with these tips from Caccia Plumbing.
Inspecting Your Garbage Disposal
If you have a garbage disposal unit, it’s important to ensure it’s in good working condition before the holidays arrive. A quick inspection can help root out any potential problems before the chaos of Thanksgiving or Christmas Day meal prep rolls around. Start with these basic steps.
Step One: Listen for Strange Noises
Run the garbage disposal unit with only water entering the drain. Try dropping in a few orange or lemon rinds. If you hear any grinding, rattling, clunking noises, the unit may be malfunctioning.
Step Two: Check for Clogs
Run water into the sink. If it drains slowly, you might have a blockage. Turn the unit off and carefully inspect the drain with a flashlight, using tongs or pliers to remove any debris—never your hands!
Step Three: Check the Power Connection
Most garbage disposals plug into an outlet under the sink. Inspect the cord and outlet itself for any signs of wear, fraying, or damage. Reach out for service if you find any.
Step Four: Look for Leaks
Since you’re already under the sink, use the opportunity to inspect everything closely for signs of a leak or bad odors, like spoiled food. The most common cause of a garbage disposal leak is a failed internal seal—you’ll need an expert to fix it.
Step Five: Help Guests Use the Garbage Disposal Properly
Well-meaning guests—especially kids—may not know what’s safe to toss into the garbage disposal and what isn’t. To avoid confusion, place a festive notecard with helpful reminders near the sink. Or, just have a quick chat with any kitchen helpers as they arrive.
Related: The Do’s and Dont’s of a Garbage Disposal
Issues
Fall is an excellent time to handle any bathroom maintenance tasks and check toilets for issues. A few weeks before Thanksgiving, set aside some time to give your bathroom a good cleaning and use the opportunity to thoroughly inspect for problems.
Step One: Inspect for Leaks
Check the intake line, toilet bowl, back reservoir, and all connection points for dripping or flowing water. Keep in mind that pinprick leaks may only dampen surfaces or cause rusting around valves and joints. Call a plumber right away if you find a problem.
Step Two: Listen for Noisy Flushing
While some noise when flushing is expected, gurgling or whistling isn’t normal. It typically indicates a partial blockage or problem with the fill valve. Try plunging the toilet a few times to see if the noise improves, or, look into replacing the fill valve in the tank.
Loud banging usually stems from a pressure issue called water hammer. It can be complicated to address and fix, so you should leave this one to a pro.
Step Three: Test for and Address Clogs
If a toilet flushes sluggishly, you may have a partial blockage or the beginnings of a clog. Try plunging the bowl a few times. If the issue persists, pour around a cup of baking soda into the bowl and wait for 1-2 minutes. Then, slowly pour two cups of vinegar into the bowl a little at a time. The mixture will bubble—that’s what you want! After five minutes, try flushing again.
Related: How to Unclog Your Toilet (Without Calling a Plumber)
Step Four: Listen for Running Water
If you can hear a persistent trickling noise or the toilet never seems to stop flushing, the problem is usually a faulty fill valve or flapper. Quick fixes like jiggling the handle or adjusting the chain inside the tank may help, but they are temporary at best. You’ll need to replace the broken component for a full resolution.
Step Five: Check the Internal Components
Turn the water at the shut-off valve and remove the lid from the back of the toilet. Inspect the internal components, including the fill valve, flapper, and float switch for dirt or damage.
Use a sponge to wipe away any debris. You can find replacement components for most modern toilets at any hardware store. While replacing the fill valve or flapper is fairly DIY-friendly, we’re always happy to take over if you prefer an expert hand.
Related: Why is Flushing My Toilet So Noisy?
Inspecting for Leaks and Drips
Inspecting for leaks shouldn’t stop at your toilet. It’s just as important to check other more remote parts of your plumbing system and pipes—at least the ones that aren’t hidden behind or under walls. Spotting moisture or drips early on can help prevent holiday disasters and save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Step One: Check Under Sinks
Check under sinks for dampness, pooling water, mold, or warped wood in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or garage. Feel for moisture around key pipe junctions, like the p-trap under the sink or elbow joints, as a pinhole leak may not be visible.
Step Two: Examine Water Supply Lines
Carefully inspect accessible water supply lines throughout your home. Pipes that lead to toilets, sinks, and dishwashers will be the most easy to access, but don’t forget to check the lines connected to your washing machine, refrigerator, hot water heater, hot tub, or pool.
Step Three: Test Faucets and Showerheads
Run the water for a minute or two in all faucets, including showerheads. Does the water flow out of the faucet evenly without dripping or trailing off down the handle or base? Can you see any signs of hard water buildup or visible damage to the base?
Step Four: Inspect All Appliances
Inspect washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, basement sump pumps, and any other appliance connected to the water carefully. Look for signs of leaks, damage, or rust, which can suggest a slow drip. If you identify a problem like damage or leaks at any of these steps, you can try to resolve the problem on your own at home. Or, reach out to a plumber for help.
Clean and Deodorize Drains
Substances like hair, soap, and debris build up in your drains over time. While this may eventually lead to a clog, it’s more common for it to cause an incomplete blockage that goes unnoticed until it becomes a total blockage. Cleaning drains out regularly will prevent this admittedly unpleasant experience from taking holiday guests by surprise.
- Remove Visible Debris: Using a flashlight, inspect each drain. Remove any obvious debris, like hair, that you can access easily. Needle-nose pliers, a wire coat hanger bent straight, or a wet-dry vac can help you dislodge anything slightly further down.
- Use a DIY Drain Cleaner: In a bowl, mix the juice of one lemon (about 1-2 tablespoons) with 1-2 cups of baking soda. Aim for a thick paste. Pile the mixture up over the drain and slowly pour white vinegar over it until all of it is inside the drain. This will help break up any debris and also leave a fresh lemony scent behind.
- Check the Flow: After about 30 minutes, run plenty of hot water down the drain. It should flow freely without any gurgling or unnecessary noise.
If you aren’t comfortable handling this task, that’s okay! Give us a call at Caccia Plumbing and we’ll take care of the dirty work on your behalf.
Knowing When to Call a Professional
In the rush to prepare for the holidays, it can be tempting to try and correct any plumbing issues you come across without help. While there’s generally no harm in trying to fix minor problems like hair in drains or noisy flushing, some plumbing issues can be much more complex—or even dangerous—to handle on your own.
You know your level of skill best—but the table below can help you decide when it’s time to reach out to a professional for help.
Related: 5 Types of Plumbing Problems and How to Fix Them
Caccia Plumbing Can Help Prevent Holiday Plumbing Disasters
Don’t let plumbing emergencies sneak up on you this holiday season. Caccia Plumbing can inspect and maintain your plumbing well in advance so you can feel confident that your system is ready for whatever the festive season brings—including your favorite guests.
And if a plumbing problem does strike over the holidays? Don’t worry—we’ve got your back when you need us the most. Contact Caccia Plumbing online or call (650) 442-1470 for faster service in an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Plumbing Disasters
Do guests really pose a risk to my plumbing system?
Generally speaking, most modern plumbing systems in good condition are more than capable of handling a temporary increase in demand—like when you invite guests over for Thanksgiving dinner. But if your system is older, suffers from existing problems already, or isn’t well-maintained, even a small increase in use can push it past its limits.
If it’s been a while since you last had a plumber in, or you aren’t familiar with your system, now is the perfect time to schedule a service call. Our experts can help you assess your needs and predict how they might change in the future.
Is Caccia Plumbing available for emergencies on holidays?
Yes! We understand that plumbing disasters can strike at any time without warning, especially around the festive season. Rest assured that we are available for emergencies all throughout the season. If you need to reach us in a pinch, call us at (650) 442-1470.
What isn’t safe for my garbage disposal?
Every garbage disposal unit is different, and some systems may be capable of processing items that would cause others to clog or fail. For best results, it’s best to refer to the information in the guide that came with your device. All of these common holiday foods commonly cause issues:
- Turkey
- Corn
- Fats/grease
- Bone fragments
- Potato Skins
- Celery
- Bread
- Eggshells
- Silverware
- Aluminum foil
- Fruit pits
You should also be careful not to overload your device. Too much of the safest items, like citrus rinds, may eventually result in clogs.
I’m visiting family and just clogged the toilet. What should I do?
It’s common to panic when this happens or feel embarrassed. Whether you’re searching for a fix from the commode or trying to strategize on a fix with loved ones, please know that clogs can can strike even at the best of times. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.
If the water is overflowing, look for the intake valve and turn it counter-clockwise until the water is off. Let someone know right away.
Otherwise, you can try to dislodge the clog by:
- Plunging the toilet a few times.
- Plunging while flushing (may be more effective).
- Pouring baking soda and vinegar into the bowl (let it sit).
Don’t put any harsh chemicals, like Draino or bleach, into the toilet without speaking to whoever owns the home. These can be dangerous and may do more harm than good.
What should I do if I see or smell sewage in my bathroom?
Sewage smells—or more troubling, seeing raw sewage—is a sign that something has gone seriously wrong within your plumbing system. Keep any guests away from the room (close the door if you can) and reach out to a plumber for help right away.
If the problem is serious enough, you and your guests may need to temporarily exit the house for safety reasons. It’s generally too unpleasant to remain around anyhow!