Don’t Let Holiday Cooking Clog Your Drains

It’s the silly season, so don’t let holiday cooking clog your drains and ruin the fun!

Christmas and New Years are both just around the corner, which means fun, family and of course, festive food. Imagine this: you’re in the kitchen, whipping up a salad and getting the Christmas turkey ready, when suddenly the sink won’t drain. Standing water and unpleasant smells creep in and your happy holiday cooking turns into a plumbing nightmare.

At these times of the year, when we’re likely spending more time in the kitchen, the risk of plumbing issues increases as we cook up those special meals. But with a little preparation and care can prevent clogged sinks and save you from costly repairs. Let’s keep your kitchen sink flowing and your holiday fun times intact.

Christmas cooking can lead to severe clogs in your drain if you’re not careful about the proper disposal of food scraps and debris. With the kitchen in full swing, it’s easy to forget how some habits can harm your plumbing.

Here are the most common holiday drain clog culprits to watch out for:

• Grease and cooking oils: Pouring cooking oils down the sink can solidify in pipes and cause stubborn clogs.
• Food scraps: Small bits of food waste like salad dressings or other scraps can accumulate and clog the kitchen sink.
• Turkey bones and other debris: Hard stuff like bones or fibrous scraps can cause major clogs.
• Soap scum and coffee grounds: They often combine with food particles to form a drain-clogging residue.

By knowing these common culprits you can avoid putting them down the drain. As they say, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to clogged drains!

Proper waste disposal is key to keeping your plumbing system in top shape, especially over the Christmas period.

Always steer clear of pouring cooking oils, grease or salad dressings down the sink. These don’t take much to solidify and cause stubborn clogs. The better option is to let them cool and scrape them into the bin. Use drain strainers to catch food particles, paper towel scraps and other debris before they go down the pipes.

Don’t put hard items like turkey bones or coffee grounds into the sink – they can cause major blockages. For extra protection, rinse your kitchen sink with hot water after use to flush away any remaining residue.

These little habits work wonders in preventing clogged drains.

Maintenance is your best defence against holiday plumbing nightmares. With the kitchen sink working overtime, small issues like soap scum or food particles can quickly turn into major clogs. \

Scheduling maintenance helps identify potential problems before they disrupt your holiday cooking. Professional plumbers can inspect your plumbing system, clear any stubborn blockages and make sure your pipes and sewer lines are in top shape. Regular cleaning like flushing drains with hot water or using baking soda and vinegar can also prevent build up and unpleasant smells.

By being proactive you can avoid costly repairs (such as drain excavation), water damage and the stress of dealing with a clogged sink during the holiday season. Keep your plumbing clear and your holidays hassle-free.

Routine, regular maintenance is the key to keeping your plumbing clear and avoiding costly repairs during the holiday season. Follow these tips to keep clogged drains and foul odours away:

• Run hot water regularly: After each use, rinse your kitchen sink with hot water to clear grease and soap scum.
• Baking soda and vinegar: This natural duo is great for breaking down minor blockages and deodorising drains.
• Clean drain strainers daily: Remove food particles and other debris to prevent clogs from forming.
• Check your water heater: Make sure it’s working properly to dissolve grease.
• Schedule maintenance: Professional plumbers can inspect and clear your pipes before small issues become big problems.

A little goes a long way in keeping your plumbing holiday-ready.

As much as we stress “Don’t let holiday cooking clog your drains” it’s likely that minor clogs and stubborn blockages will happen. Yes, they can be a pain. However, there are a few quick fixes you can try before calling in the professionals.

Start by pouring hot water down the drain – this will dissolve grease and loosen debris. Just as the baking soda and vinegar mixture is great for routine maintenance, it’s equally as effective at breaking down minor blockages and deodorising drains.

For standing water, use a plunger to dislodge the clog and get your sink flowing again. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners as they can damage your pipes over time.

If food scraps or other substances are causing major clogs a drain snake can help get to deeper blockages. For persistent issues don’t wait – call a professional to prevent costly repairs.

Keep Your Drains Clear and Your Holidays Merry

The holiday season should be fun, not for plumbing problems. Luckily, you can keep your plumbing system in top shape through regular cleaning, by practising proper waste disposal and avoiding disposing of harmful substances like cooking oils and food scraps down the drain.

So don’t let holiday cooking clog your drains. They’ll likely lead to costly repairs or stressful interruptions. A little care like using drain strainers and flushing with hot water goes a long way in preventing clogged sinks and major blockages. For stubborn clogs or ongoing issues, professional plumbers can save the day and get your kitchen running smoothly.

With your drains clear you can focus on what matters most – enjoying the holidays with your loved ones.

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