When enjoying quality time with friends and family this Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to deal with are plumbing troubles. Luckily, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid a plumbing emergency this holiday. Here are the top 5 tips every homeowner should know before hosting guests!

1. Be Careful What You Put Down The Drain

When cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner, you may find it to be easier to just dump the leftovers in the sink and let the garbage disposal take care of it. However, some things just don't belong down the drain. To prevent clogging and overwhelming your plumbing system, you should throw all leftovers in the trash bin. The following items should not be put down the drain:

• Grease, Oil and Fat
• Egg Shells
• Coffee Grounds
• Bones
• Poultry Skins
• Potato Peels
• Pasta and Rice
• Seeds, Nuts, and Pits

2. Come Up With A Shower Schedule

Your water heater will surely be overwhelmed this time of year if you plan to host overnight guests. That's why it's a good idea to come up with a shower schedule and space them out a bit. Ask guests to wait 10-15 minutes between each shower. This will allow hair and soap enough time to disperse so you don't have to deal with clogged pipes, and your tank enough to refill with hot water, so your guests don't have to step foot in an ice cold shower.

3. Prepare Your Bathroom

Your bathroom is going to see a lot more holiday foot traffic than usual if you plan to host family and friends. That being said, make sure it's prepared! First, equip your bathroom with all the necessities: toilet paper, soap, towels, and a plunger. Then, consider hiding any "flushable" wipes. Even though flushable wipes are considered "flushable", they can wreak havoc on your plumbing because they don't disintegrate as well as toilet paper. It's probably best you don't have guests using them, as it could lead to clogs in your pipes. Also, make sure your guests know what is flushable and what is not. To put it simply, only two things belong in the toilet: toilet paper and waste. Anything else should be thrown away in the garbage.

4. Address Plumbing Issues Before Guests Arrive

Is there a leak you've put off fixing? Do you have water backing up in your shower or sink? Does your toilet make strange noises, even when not in use? Whatever the plumbing issue may be, it's a good idea to take care of them before hosting Thanksgiving. This way, you can be sure you won't have to deal with any plumbing issues over the holiday.

5. Dispose Of Cooking Grease Properly

We talked a bit about tossing leftovers into the sink, but we feel that grease needs to be discussed further. Many homeowners think that because grease is a liquid, it's fine to put down the sink. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, grease will solidify once it cools and this can block your pipes. It's best to let grease cool and solidify and then toss it into the trash can instead of pouring it down your drains.

Avoid A Plumbing Emergency This Thanksgiving And Contact The Pros At Peter Levi Today! We Are Here For All Your Plumbing Needs In Northern California.

For over 35 years, Peter Levi has been providing fast, professional plumbing services you can count on. The experts at Peter Levi are here to help with all your plumbing needs. Contact us today at 800-868-6885 or online here.