Clogged Drain: A Holiday Plumbing Emergency
During the holiday season, you may feel extra stressed hosting family and friends for festive celebrations. It’s meant to be a time for glad tidings and cheer, but all you can think about is making sure everything goes right in the kitchen.
The turkey is in the oven, and you’ve got stuffing cooking on the stove—things are going swimmingly. Until… your kitchen sink drain gets clogged.
Plumbing systems are under extra pressure during the holidays, too. Drain clogs are one of the most common holiday plumbing emergencies and quickly turn a celebration into a stressful situation.
Luckily, Kentucky homeowners can count on Dauenhauer for 24/7 plumbing solutions. We’ll share signs that you have a drain problem and clog prevention tips so you can prepare for the upcoming holiday season.
Why Plumbing Problems Spike During the Holidays
It may always seem like your home plumbing system waits until the worst possible time to have issues. Why do plumbing issues frequently occur during the holiday season? There are several reasons:
- Extra cooking grease and food waste: Delicious holiday meals often come with extra cooking grease and increased food waste. Your garbage disposal can only handle so much waste, and dumping grease down the drain is ill advised.
- Increased water usage and bathroom strain: With more people at your house than usual, your plumbing system may be strained. Guests will be using the restroom, washing their hands, and helping with an increased number of dishes. All these actions contribute to increased water usage and strain on your system.
- Inappropriate materials may be flushed or drained: You can’t always keep an eye on all your guests. Sometimes, accidents happen and inappropriate materials are flushed or drained. These accidents, often by children, can cause emergency plumbing issues.
- Cold weather affects outdoor pipes and drains: Freezing temperatures can impact your pipes’ performance during the holidays. Cold weather can lead to clogs and ice buildup, which may backup your plumbing system.
Signs You Have a Drain Problem
You may be curious about how to determine if you have a drain problem before hosting guests for the holidays. Look for the following signs to avoid a holiday plumbing emergency:
- Water drains slowly in sinks or tubs
- Gurgling noises or foul odors from drains
- Backed-up sinks after dishwashing or laundry
- Standing water around floor drains
Holiday Clog Prevention Tips
A clogged drain is no fun — especially during the holidays. Prevent clogs and keep the festivities flowing by following these holiday plumbing tips:
- Avoid pouring grease, oil, or fat down the drain: Grease, oil, and fat should not be poured into your kitchen sink. They can easily clog your drain. Instead, put these substances into the trash can.
- Use drain strainers to catch food and hair: Drain strainers for your kitchen sink and showers or bathtubs help prevent buildup by catching food and hair. Taking this extra step can help save you from needing to call a plumber during the holiday season.
- Run hot water after using the sink to clear buildup: Running hot water after using the sink helps smooth away any buildup in your drain. It can melt grease and grime to leave your drainpipe clean.
- Avoid flushing wipes or paper towels: Don’t flush baby wipes or paper towels down the toilet. Even “flushable wipes” shouldn’t be trusted. It’s best to avoid flushing anything but toilet paper.
- Schedule pre-holiday plumbing maintenance with Dauenhauer: A pre-holiday plumbing checkup ensures that your home plumbing system is ready for holiday guests.
What to Do if You Have a Clogged Drain During the Holidays
If you run into a clogged drain during a holiday celebration, there are a few steps you can take to solve the issue.
First, shut off water to prevent overflow. You may be able to unclog your drain without the need for a professional plumber. Use a plunger or a safe enzyme cleaner to clear small clogs or blockages. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners, as they can damage pipes.
If you are unsuccessful in unclogging the drain, water backs up, or drains stop working completely, call a professional plumbing service, such as Dauenhauer. Dauenhauer offers 24/7 emergency drain services in Lexington, Louisville, and other Kentucky cities.
Professional Drain Cleaning & Emergency Plumbing Services
Dauenhauer’s local experts handle tough clogs with hydro jetting and video camera inspections. Our professional plumbers are licensed, insured, and safety-minded, so you can trust you’re in good hands.
Hydro jetting is a deep-cleaning method for clogged drains that relies on high-pressure jets to clear buildup or blockages. Our plumbers are skilled at clearing clogs using the hydro jetting method.
Video Camera Inspections
Dauenhauer uses high-resolution plumbing cameras to see inside your pipes and help diagnose issues. Our skilled plumbers can pinpoint the cause of a blockage or clogged drain through a 360-degree camera inspection.
Same-day & 24-hour Availability
We’re proud to offer our customers same-day and 24-hour availability. Lexington and Louisville homeowners can trust Dauenhauer’s speedy service.
Why Kentucky Homeowners Choose Dauenhauer During the Holidays
Kentucky homeowners have trusted Dauenhauer for over 65 years. We’ve been a trusted, family-owned brand since 1958 and proudly serve homeowners in Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown, and Shelbyville.
Our licensed and insured plumbers are available 24/7 — even on holidays! So, you can rest assured that someone can take care of your plumbing emergency quickly. Our fast response times ensure that your problem is solved promptly and effectively.
We offer courteous, professional service that you can count on. Our upfront pricing is in place, so you know what a service will cost before we begin.
Call Dauenhauer for Your Emergency Plumbing Needs
Plumbing emergencies don’t need to ruin holiday plans. Follow the best practices and tips we shared to prevent clogged drains. But don’t worry! Even if a clogged drain occurs, you can always call Dauenhauer to take care of it.
Don’t let a clogged drain spoil your celebration — call Dauenhauer Plumbing for fast, reliable drain cleaning and emergency plumbing service today.
