Holiday Plumbing Tips To Keep the Grinch Away!

ByKameron Hensley

With all the Christmas parties, family time, and rushing to get gifts, the last thing you need is a plumbing emergency during the holidays. End unwanted stress and get back to making memories this holiday season by following these simple holiday plumbing tips.

5 Christmas Plumbing Tips

We can’t control everything in life, especially on a holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah. But when it comes to your plumbing, there are steps you can take in advance to avoid the extra expense of a plumber. Here are 5 that are easy to implement.

1. Check for Drips and Leaks

A constant leaky faucet can hurt your wallet if left without repair. Try to get ahead of these before guests arrive.

Consider reading this article on how to find a water leak in your home. It could save you thousands of dollars and loads of frustration. Besides, wouldn’t you rather keep some of that money for yourself this Christmas? 🙂

free plumbing estimates - woman with ceiling water leak calling plumber for estimate
Finding a leak before the holiday will prevent a water damage disaster while you’re trying to enjoy food and family.

2. Protect Your Pipes

Your pipes get cold, too. When they get too cold, the water inside them can freeze and expand. This leads to water damage and broken plumbing. Take this holiday plumbing tip consideration and avoid burst pipes by insulating exposed pipes in garages or crawlspaces. Wrapping them in old towels works well in a pinch.

how to insulate exposed water pipes - copper water supply pipes protected with pipe jacketing insulation
There are many types of pipe insulation you can purchase, from aluminum wraps to foam to heat tape.

3. Maintain Indoor Temperature

Many of us leave our house unattended while visiting family or friends. Trying to save money, they turn the heat off or too low.

But pipes that freeze and burst can cause tremendous water damage at huge expense. Whether you’ll be gone for a few hours or a few days, pipes can freeze quickly. To prevent them from freezing while you’re away, keep the temperature set to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

prevent freezing pipes - thermostat

4. Prevent Clogs

A sink or tub that won’t drain can easily and quickly put a damper on your holiday season mood. To prevent kitchen drain clogs, make sure that you and your guests follow a few simple rules.

If you’re cooking this holiday, remember never to use the drain as a trash can. Your disposal might be quite the chopper, but it’s not meant or made to chop stringy or starchy vegetables, skins and peels, nuts, bones, eggshells, or grease and oils. All of these can cause a clog.

Christmas plumbing tips - grease clog in drain
This is what grease will do to your drains. Never pour grease, oils, and other sticky, starchy, stringy, or hard food debris into your drain — even if you have a garbage disposal.

5. Winterize Your Home

If you’re heading out of town for Christmas for a week or two, it might be best to make sure there’s no water left in your pipes.

Without water, your pipes won’t be able to freeze. You can also drain your water heater and turn off its power supply. Lastly, shut off the water leading to all the toilets, faucets, and lastly the water valves.

Sometimes no matter how much you prepare, disaster still strikes. So make sure you have a trusted plumber’s number nearby. Preferably, find one that handles emergency plumbing issues 24/7/365. Most will try to schedule you out, but a true emergency plumber will determine if it is in fact an emergency and be there in less than 2 hours…even on Christmas!

how to winterize a vacant house - add pink non-toxic antifreeze to all drains
There’s a process involved in fully winterizing a home. Talk to a plumber about how this is done. Or read our article listed in the Related Resources section below.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, if you follow these simple holiday plumbing tips, the holidays should be a breeze. More so, no one wants to invite a plumber to their holiday feast, so use this as your guide to get through the holiday season!

If you do unfortunately run into any kind of drain or plumbing emergency, call a trusted emergency plumber who is on call 24/7/365.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need any plumbing, drain cleaning, or winterization heading into Christmas (or after).

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.

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