When you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner with a house full of guests, the last thing you want is to have to deal with a plumbing emergency. Unfortunately, the holidays are a common time for these kinds of emergencies. While there’s no guarantee that you won’t have any urgent plumbing problems come up during the holiday, you can take steps to lower the risk of these happening. These simple steps can help you avoid having to call a plumber this Thanksgiving. 

Use Your Garbage Disposal Wisely

Garbage disposals provide a convenient way to get rid of food scraps without filling up the garbage, but they can turn into a headache when something goes wrong with them. Keep in mind that you can’t just toss anything down your garbage disposal when you’re cleaning up on Thanksgiving. Certain items can cause damage to the blades in your disposal or clog up your pipes, resulting in even bigger plumbing problems. Make sure your guests are aware of which food items shouldn't be put in the disposal, so you can reduce your risk of having to call a plumber. Foods that should never be put into a garbage disposal include the following:

• Egg shells- the shells have a lining that can damage the shredder in your disposal
• Bones-  they don't break down easily and can cause blockages in your disposal
• Fibrous vegetables- such as celery, have strings that can become caught in the blades
• Coffee grounds- the fine grounds can clog up your drains when they build up over time
• Grease- it can clog up pipes in your home and cause serious leaks 
• Pasta and rice- it can swell up and block the trap in your garbage disposal 
• Potato skins- these can cause clogs in your disposal

Check Bathrooms Ahead of Time

If you are having guests from out of town stay at your home during Thanksgiving, plan to avoid plumbing problems. Go around your home, and check each bathroom to make sure everything is working as it should. This includes doing all of the following:

• Flush toilets to check for potential problems, such as a toilet that won’t flush right or a toilet that keeps on running. 
• Run the shower or tub faucets to make sure that they get hot and cold water. 
• Turn the sinks on to see if they’re running without any leaks or other problems occurring. 
• You should also take a look around to check for signs of a leak or water damage that needs to be repaired before your guests arrive. Catching leaks and other plumbing problems early helps prevent you from having more extensive problems, especially when you have a full house during the holiday. 

Contact us today to get your home ready for Thanksgiving!