We’re coming up on the holiday season—a time of year filled with family gatherings, house guests, and lots of cooking. Don’t let clogs, sewer backups, and costly repairs get in the way of your cherished holiday traditions.
One of the easiest ways to avoid holiday plumbing headaches is to be aware of what goes down your drains, which is why we’ve compiled a list of Drain Don’ts and Drain Do’s for your kitchen and bathroom.
Drain Don’ts:
Clogged Drains—Kitchen Drains and Garbage Disposals
It may seem like your kitchen sink and garbage disposal can handle anything, but there are some items your drains aren’t meant to handle. Here are several things you should never put down your drains:
- Grease, Oil, and Fat: These may be liquid when hot, but once they cool, they turn into a gel-like substance that adheres to the walls of your pipes and can cause blockages.
- Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds can settle and build up in the elbows and bends of your pipes, obstructing the flow through those areas.
- Eggshells: The membranes from eggshells can wrap around your garbage disposal’s impellers, which can cause a number of problems with your unit.
- Pasta, Oatmeal, and Other Starchy Foods: These foods expand with water, causing them to get stuck in your pipes.
- Bones and Hard Materials: Turkey (and other animal) bones, fruit pits, and walnut shells are all examples of items that are too hard for most garbage disposals.
Drain Don’ts:
Clogged Drains—Bathroom Sinks, Tubs, and Showers
It’s just as important to be mindful of your bathroom drains, as they’ll likely see heavier use during the holidays because of more time at home and extra guests.
Here are some things that should never go down your sink, toilet, or bathtub drain:
- Hair: One of the biggest culprits in bathroom clogs. Using a drain cover can help prevent hair from getting into the pipes.
- Wet Wipes: Even if labeled “flushable,” these items don’t break down like toilet paper and can cause severe blockages.
- Cotton Balls and Swabs: Cotton products do not break apart easily, leading to accumulation and clogs in pipes.
- Feminine Hygiene Products: These items are dense and can expand, creating dams in your pipes.
Why Professional Drain Clearing Is Worth It
Even with careful use and following all the drain do’s and don’ts, your pipes can still get clogged over time. Grease, hair, soap, and food scraps gradually build up inside, slowing water flow and creating weak spots where backups can start. Left unchecked, these blockages can cause foul odors, overflowing sinks, or even pipe damage—problems that are more difficult and costly to fix later.
Scheduling a professional drain clearing removes these obstructions safely and completely, preventing small issues from turning into big emergencies and keeping your plumbing flowing smoothly all season long.
Keep Your Drains Holiday-Ready with Precision
Holidays mean more cooking, guests, and bathroom traffic—don’t let clogged drains ruin the fun. A professional holiday drain clearing now can help prevent backups and keep everything flowing smoothly.
At Precision Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, we’ve been helping Boulder and Front Range families avoid plumbing headaches for decades. Get your drains ready and enjoy a holiday season free of drain disasters—call or schedule online today!