Preventing plumbing emergencies this holiday season

We see it every year: someone’s well-intentioned kitchen helper accidentally pours grease from that delicious holiday roast down the drain – and 24 hours later, you’re stuck with a sink full of dirty dishwater that just won’t go down.

The holidays are famous for plumbing disasters – whether they happen in the sink, the garbage disposal, or even the underused guest bathroom. The good news is that if you do have a plumbing emergency during the holidays, our master plumbers are on-hand to get the problem taken care of quickly.

Of course, the best way to deal with a plumbing problem in your Western Massachusetts home is to avoid it in the first place. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Pour any excess grease from turkey or roast pans into a disposable container and let it congeal; then discard the container in the trash. If that’s not possible, clean up oil and grease with paper towels and discard them.
2. Be careful about what you put in your garbage disposal; avoid putting in the following items:
   • Bones
   • Celery, pumpkin or potato flesh, or other fibrous foods
   • Coffee grounds
   • Egg shells
   • Fruit pits
   • Pasta
   • GREASE!
3. Always use enough water in your garbage disposal, and let it run at least 20-30 seconds to take care of stubborn trash.
4. Remind guests that a toilet is not a garbage pail – TP only!
5. If you have any plumbing issues, take care of them before the company arrives.

Avoid Thanksgiving plumbing disasters – if you have a plumbing problem, take care of it before you have a houseful of people. Contact the plumbing experts at FSi today to schedule a plumbing appointment.