Hosting a Party? 7 Plumbing Tips to Keep Things Running Smoothly

If you’re hosting a gathering in your home, you have a lot of planning to do. For example, you need to ensure your plumbing systems are in top working condition to avoid issues like sewer backups and toilet malfunctions on the big day. Check out these seven plumbing tips to ensure everything goes smoothly. 



1. Check Your Drains

If you're hosting a big party, you'll deal with lots of dirty dishes that need cleaning. Your sinks and drains need to be working efficiently to avoid any delays or inconveniences. 

Check your kitchen, bathroom, and shower drains to ensure everything is draining away smoothly and quickly. If there are any issues, such as slow-draining water, gurgling sounds, and unpleasant odors, you may be dealing with a clog, so call a licensed plumber to inspect the drain and fix the problem. 

2. Set Out Trash Bins

As a general rule, only toilet paper should be flushed down your toilet. Everything else, including wet wipes, paper towels, cotton balls, and feminine supplies, shouldn't go down there, even if they have a 'flushable' claim. 

Unfortunately, not all your guests may share this knowledge. And if there isn't a visible trash bin in your bathroom, some of them may dispose of trash in the toilet. Such a mistake can lead to severe toilet clogs. To be safe, place visible trash bins in all your bathrooms. You can even put up a friendly sign to remind your guests not to throw trash in the toilet.

3. Locate Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve

You probably won't use the water shut-off valve during your party, but it's still good to take caution. In case of a plumbing issue, like an overflowing toilet, leak, or broken pipe, you can prevent severe water damage by shutting off the water supply into your home. Thus, get to know the location of your main water shut-off valve to be safe.

4. Protect Your Pipes

If you're hosting a party during a cold season, temperatures could drop below freezing point and burst or freeze your pipes. To ensure this doesn't happen, turn off your outside water valves and detach anything hooked to your pipes with water still in it.

Also, you can have a professional plumber inspect your plumbing system to ensure all your pipes are properly insulated. This includes pipes in areas such as the garage, crawlspace, and outside your home. 

5. Keep Grease Out of Your Kitchen Drains

With all the cooking happening, it may be tempting to pour grease down your kitchen drains to save time. But that's a big mistake. Once the grease is inside the drains, it will solidify and create blockages or backups. The best way to deal with grease is to drain it into a container and then discard it in your household trash. 

6. Allow Time Between Showers

If too many people shower within a short period, the hot water in your water heater may run out and cause inconveniences. Therefore, if you're hosting many visitors in your home, it's advisable to wait a few minutes between showers. This also clears out your drains to avoid clogs in the shower. 

7. Develop a Smart Cleanup Plan

Once the party is over, the cleanup process will begin. However, before you start shoving the remaining food into the garbage disposal and the dirty utensils into the sink, create a cleanup plan. 

When cleaning the cups and bottles, ensure no acidic drinks (like lime and lemon juices) fall into the drain as they could corrode the pipes. Stirrers and straws could also cause clogs if they got into the drains. For the leftover foods, you're better off depositing them in the trash as opposed to the garbage disposal. 

Following these seven plumbing tips will ensure your home is ready for the big day. Contact us at Oak Creek Plumbing and Remodeling today if you're looking for a professional plumbing inspection, repair, or replacement.