Tips To Make Plumbing Last Into The New Year

 The holidays are a time full of family, food, and making memories, but they can be very tough on your plumbing. Everyone is home from work and school, you’re cooking more and eating more at home, and your bathrooms get much more use than normal when you have friends and family over to celebrate. In order to avoid disruptive and expensive plumbing problems over the Christmas period, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips for you to keep your plumbing systems as efficient as possible well into 2021. 

1. Check all of your sinks and toilets for any drips, any running water, or any slow drainage. Some plumbing problems are hard to notice at first, like a sink drain that gradually drains more and more slowly, and by the time you notice it, it requires a professional to fix it. Take stock of any issues now and speak with a plumber if you have any concerns. 
2. Use drain screens in all your sinks and showers. Even if you diligently scrape your plates into the garbage can before rinsing them off, you’ll be surprised how many food scraps a drain screen can catch, saving you from a clogged kitchen sink. Shower drain screens catch hair that would otherwise make your shower drain more slowly. It’s a quick, easy fix that keeps your drains healthy.
3. Check your hot water heater before the Christmas break. You use your hot water heater everyday, but when is the last time you actually took a look at it? As we deal with cold winter temperatures across New Jersey, the last thing you want is for your hot water heater to malfunction, so check the pressure relief valve and prevent sediment build-up by draining it at least once a year. 

Don’t abuse your garbage disposal 

We know it can be tempting to empty your holiday plates down the drain and let your garbage disposal do all the work, but putting too much strain on your disposal can lead to a serious clog. Plumbing professionals will all agree it’s best to scrape your plates clean as much as possible before rinsing any excess food down the drain, especially during the holiday season when your drains are working harder than usual. You don’t want your Christmas celebration to be interrupted by a broken down sink, or a clog that you can’t fix, so use your garbage disposal sparingly. 

If you have any questions, please contact Crosstown Plumbing today. Discover why so many industry professionals in New Jersey choose us as their trusted plumbing supply company. We look forward to hearing from you.

 Originally posted https://www.crosstownplumbing.com/tips-to-make-plumbing-last-into-the-new-year/

How To Escape A Plumbing Nightmare When Christmas Is Over

 With Christmas just around the corner, you’re undoubtedly busy making plans to celebrate. The last thing you want to think about is a plumbing emergency, but did you know that one of the most common emergencies we see year after year are clogged drains right after the holidays? We’ve put together a handy guide to help you keep your pipes clean and avoid expensive emergency calls to your local plumber. 

• Be vigilant about what everyone puts down the kitchen drain. Your drains aren’t meant to be used as a garbage can for food scraps, oils, grease, and other leftovers from your holiday meals. Be sure your family and any Christmas guests you have don’t empty their plates down the kitchen sink. We recommend getting a drain screen to keep your pipes as clear as possible. You also may want to use a liquid drain cleaner before and after the holidays.
• Keep your pipes insulated. Here in New Jersey, it can get pretty chilly. When your pipes are exposed to cold temperatures they can freeze, crack, expand, and burst, leaving you with a huge mess. To prevent frozen pipes we recommend wrapping them with insulation sleeves for protection.
• Check all the toilets in your house before the holiday season. With people home from work and school, and a house full of friends and family, your bathrooms will be used much more than normal and should be in perfect working condition. Check for any drips, any running water, or any flushing issues and call a plumber if you think something is wrong.
• Space out showers as much as possible. We know it can be difficult with a house full of people, but your shower drain needs time to drain properly after each person uses it. We recommend waiting twenty minutes between showers to avoid clogged shower drains, especially when you have more people than usual using the shower.

What causes clogged drains? 

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but it can put a big strain on your home plumbing. We often see clogs caused by the same several things around the holidays, including food scraps, excess cooking oil and grease being poured down the kitchen sink. Always scrape your plates into the garbage can first, and never pour oil or grease down the drain!

To ensure you’re fully prepared for any potential holiday plumbing emergencies, or if you have any questions, please contact Crosstown Plumbing today. Find out why so many industry professionals in New Jersey choose us as their trusted plumbing wholesaler. 

Originally posted https://www.crosstownplumbing.com/how-to-escape-a-plumbing-nightmare-when-christmas-is-over/