With the holidays just around the corner, meal planning has started in homes across Atlanta. Everyone looks forward to holiday feasts, but no one wants to deal with calling an emergency plumber due to a clogged drain. When you are cooking this season, avoid these holiday plumbing mistakes and keep your drains clear!
Expandable Food
There are several holiday foods that swell when they are mixed with water. When these foods get sucked down the sink, they mix with the water in your lines and can form clogs that an emergency plumber will have to clear out. Avoid washing these foods down your drain:
- Potatoes and their skins
- Gelatin substances
- Pasta
- Rice
- Flour
- Semolina
- Pastry scraps
Unbreakable Items
Other holiday plumbing mistakes that can cause clogged drains are foods that don’t break down with water. These items can be small or hard, which allows them to accumulate and block your drains. These items include:
- Egg shells
- Bones
- Coffee grounds
- Tea leaves
Fatty Substances
One of the biggest causes for calling an emergency plumber during the holidays is fatty substances that are poured down the drain. Fat and other greasy products solidify once they are cool, which easily turns into a nightmare of a clogged drain. They can even cause more severe issues, like sewer backups. Avoid this holiday plumbing mistake by keeping these foods away from your drains:
- Butter, margarine and shortening
- Cooling oil
- Sauces
- Fat from meat
- Lard
- Dairy
Fibrous Foods
Clogged drains can also occur if stringy or rubbery products are tossed down the drain. These types of food are made of fibers that aren’t easily broken down and become tangled inside your plumbing lines. Examples of fibrous foods are:
- Onion skins
- Artichokes
- Celery stalks
- Corn husks
- Kiwi skins
- Other vegetables and fruits
Prevent clogged drains or other holiday plumbing mistakes by calling Estes Services! Our experienced emergency plumbers are available 24/7 for all your plumbing needs.
