Did you know that Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the busiest day for residential plumbing companies. Families gathering in their kitchens and visiting guests means there’s typically a greater demand on bathrooms. Although this years gathering might be a little smaller, it’s important to prep and prepare your home. Here are 7 plumbing tips to keep in mind when celebrating with the family this holiday season.

Have you had lingering plumbing issues building up in your house? Don’t wait until the last minute to call the professionals. Minor issues can develop into major problems and potentially ruin a family gathering. In the weeks leading up, we urge you to do a routine maintenance check on your sink, toilet, shower and hot water heaters. Scheduling a service call with Clarksburg Plumbing can be the preventative measure you need to keep your Thanksgiving run smoothly.

2. Reduce Kitchen Traffic

Believe it or not, many of the calls that occur on or after Thanksgiving have to do with foreign objects getting stuck in drains. One way to avoid this issue is to reduce the traffic in your kitchen. Encourage guests to use other spaces for socializing – it can help reduce distractions and accidents.

3. Properly Dispose of Grease

Grease can spell serious trouble for your plumbing. While hot, grease seems like another harmless liquid to pour down the drain. But as grease cools, it congeals and can cause blockages in your pipes. Properly dispose of grease after Thanksgiving cooking by pouring it in a plastic bag and toss it in the garbage when you’re done.

4. Don’t Treat Your Garbage Disposal like a Garbage Bag

Thanksgiving cooking can be overwhelming, too often we cut corners by using our garbage disposal as a catch all for food waste. A word of advice: Throw them in the trash. Listed below are a number of food products that can cause plumbing problems: Celery Potato peels Eggshells Bones Coffee grounds Pasta or noodles Fruit Pits

5. Wait to Use Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher and garbage disposal share the same drain, so it’s important to keep this in mind before running your next load of Thanksgiving dishes. Running both has the potential to allow food waste to end up in your wash cycle.

6. Keep Wet Wipes Out of the Toilet

Toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve in water so it is unlikely to cause a clog. Other items are NOT. Here’s a short list of what shouldn’t be flushed down your toilet: Cotton Balls Q-Tips Napkins or Facial Tissues Feminine products Paper Towels Makeup removers

7. Cut Down on Shower Times

Have guests be mindful of who’s showering and for how long. Multiple uses can be taxing the water pressure and plumbing in your house. A shortage of hot water can really put a damper on your holiday season.