Ah, July 4th…a day to celebrate our independence from work, school, and all of life’s pressing responsibilities. The hamburgers are on the grill. The kids are in the pool, and…
“What’s that?”
“The toilet’s overflowing?!”
“Not again!!”
If you’ve had one too many holidays put on hold by plumbing issues, you’re not alone. Most Americans will experience some form of plumbing problem this month, and they don’t know how to handle it. Here are some tips to free up your pipes this Independence Day. Keep reading to find out the most common household plumbing blunders and how to avoid them.
Save Your Sink From Greasy Blockages
A classic Independence Day celebration revolves around the outdoors, the smell of the grill, and the cool refreshing taste of lemonade. But it’s behind the scenes where danger lurks for your pipes.
The kitchen is the transition to all that outdoor fun, and the sink sees everything. The kitchen sink gets all the grease from the grill utensils. It swallows all that excess sugar and pulp from the lemonade.
It holds all our dirty plates and probably some naughty kids’ popsicle wrappers. So be sure to protect your kitchen sink with a grease trap. This will ensure your pipes don’t get clogged by removing hard solids and most grease so they can’t build up. By installing a grease trap early, you miss out on those expensive fixes when the kitchen sink finally gives in.
Plunger, Please: Avoiding Pesky Clogs
At family affairs, a clogged toilet can sometimes seem inevitable. So many people using one or a few bathrooms. So many kids throwing what seems like the whole roll in the bowl. It’s hard to predict when it’s the toilet’s last straw.
That is why you must always have a plunger in or near the bathroom. Keeping a plunger nearby will help fix the problem faster, possibly resulting in less embarrassment for whoever did the final deed.
It might seem too simple a fix but have the plunger handy. Your family will thank you. Your friends will thank you. And your toilet will thank you!
Shutoff Valves: Know How to Stop the Flow
No matter what kind of fancy new hands-free toilet or farm-style sink you may have, it is important to know how to stop and start its flow of water. This little tidbit of knowledge can be the difference between a minor party foul and a major party flood.
Locate your shutoff valves before your celebration starts, so that you can act quickly if calamity strikes. The shutoff valve is normally located underneath your sink and against the wall behind your toilet.
By rotating the shutoff valve clockwise, you can immediately stop the flow of water and save yourself from an even bigger mess to clean. If you need more help avoiding plumbing woes this 4th of July, schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers. We would be happy to provide more tips and tricks for problem prevention or come check out an existing issue.
