A large, golden turkey, mom’s famous squash casserole, pies, and cakes galore – yes, the holidays are almost upon us. And even though holiday gatherings might look slightly different this year, one thing will remain the same: the delicious food.
Will you cook or cater? This is probably the first question on your mind.
Before you plan your Thanksgiving and Christmas menus, however, there’s an essential element in your kitchen you might be foolish to overlook before you cook – the plumbing.
Yes, cooking and plumbing go hand-in-hand like mashed potatoes and gravy.
Here are a few tips to keep your kitchen smelling great and working as it should this holiday season:
Tip #1: Know What’s Going Down the Drain
One of the main problems we see during the holidays are clogs. Because of increased kitchen activity, different kinds of food are likely to find their way down the drain (though you should avoid doing so!).
Avoid putting foods near or down a drain, such as:
- Rice or pasta
- Coffee grounds
- Grease
- Oils
- Fibrous vegetables
- Pieces of fruit
Thinking twice about what goes down the drain can save you significant issues down the road.
Tip #2: Now’s The Time To Maintain Your Garbage Disposal
Though its name conjures up the thought of “disposing of all,” use the disposal with caution and care. Homeowners should not assume everything needs to go into the disposal, but they shouldn’t fail to use it too infrequently either.
Even if you don’t have anything to dispose of, you should run your disposal every few days during the holiday season. Not only does this keep the blades from rusting or becoming damaged, but it also removes any stuck-on food that could start to smell.
To clean it further, make sure you avoid any harsh commercial cleaners and use household items, such as ice cubes and lemon, to refresh your disposal.
If your disposal goes kaput altogether, call one of our technicians to help you solve the issue or take care of any of your plumbing maintenance and disposal problems.
Tip #3: Listen for any unusual sounds
While cooking can cause plumbing issues in your kitchen, overall increased use of sinks and showers (or other places in your home that use water) during the holiday season can lead to some plumbing problems.
Listen out for any sputtering water; watch for any water pressure issues, and space out how often your family bathes and showers to ensure you have all the hot water you need for cooking and cleaning.
This also includes listening out for unusual sounds in other places where water is used or can accumulate, such as the drain, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and even your washing machine.
Get Professional Plumbers to Get Your Home Holidays-Ready
The professionals at Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air have a long history of servicing home plumbing systems in the Montgomery and Auburn areas. From sinks to disposals to drain systems, our teams will do it right the first time so that you can enjoy the holiday season – different as it might be – surrounded by your family and delicious food.
Call Dixie, And It’s Done!
At Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air, your satisfaction is guaranteed. For electrical, plumbing, or heating and air services, our highly trained technicians will do it right the first time, on time, every time. For coupons and discounts on all the services Call Dixie has to offer, click here. To schedule a service with Call Dixie, call 334.328.3570 for Montgomery, or call 334.246.4914 for Auburn. You can also schedule an appointment online.
For emergency service and immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 service line at 334.328.3570.
