As you gather with friends and family in your San Jose, CA home, you’re putting your kitchen drains and plumbing system at risk. It’s common to experience an increase in clogs during the holiday season. The wrong items slip into the sink, usage spikes, and routine maintenance gets skipped. The hustle and bustle of family festivities can result in emergency plumbing issues that our team at Knockout Plumbing & Repipe Inc. must handle quickly to prevent extensive damage.
Knowing the Risks
When you host a holiday gathering, your meals may generate a substantial amount of fat, oils, and grease. Food scraps can also be present in large amounts. If you allow all these materials to go down your drain, it can lead to blockages. Cold temperatures outside can even make these oils and greases congeal at a faster rate.
There are certain items that should never go down your drains, even if you have a garbage disposal. Large scraps of meat can be difficult to break down and push through your pipes. Eggshells and very starchy foods are also things to avoid. The same is true for fibrous foods, such as celery. They accumulate very easily and do not get pulverized well by a garbage disposal. Of course, paper products or garbage must also be thrown in the trash and not in your sink.
If you can avoid some of the waste you produce during a holiday party, this can help prevent clogs. For example, using recyclable or disposable dishes can cut down on the washing you need to do. Less use of your drains is beneficial.
Avoid the Wrong Materials Going Down
It’s best to dispose of your food waste in the garbage. Scrape plates before washing them in the sink or putting them in the dishwasher. Allow water to run through your drain and garbage disposal while you’re doing the dishes. This helps flush everything through your pipes so that waste will not accumulate near the trap or branch line.
Install a simple sink strainer to catch any food scraps that end up in your sink. You can empty this strainer into the garbage as it fills and keep your drains clear.
Once everyone has gone home after a party, take a few minutes to perform maintenance. Run a pot of hot water down your drains for 60 seconds to flush away any residual non-grease residue that has formed. You can use a store-bought enzymatic cleaner to flush pipes clean. This is a much safer option than chemicals. Keep in mind, though, that if you have a severe clog, you will need professional help, as these are only used to maintain drains.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance
We advise against using store-bought drain cleaners as a preemptive measure to clear your drains. These products are usually made from very harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to your health and plumbing system. Caustic chemicals can corrode the inside of your pipes, leading to more clogs and extensive plumbing issues.
Instead, have our team come to your home and use professional drain cleaning equipment to remove debris. This includes items like augers and drain snakes. For clogs in your sewer line, you must schedule sewer repair services. When the pipe qualifies, we clear blockages with hydro jetting, high-pressure water that cleans the line efficiently and safely.
We recommend an annual drain cleaning appointment. Preferably, call for this service before you start to host your family, friends, and co-workers for the holidays. A routine inspection of your plumbing system is also beneficial. We recommend scheduling this process for your San Jose home once per year as well. Our goal is to spot issues early on before they cause clogs or other plumbing issues. It’s much easier to perform minor plumbing repairs instead of waiting for a burst pipe or leak to occur.
Using Your Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is a great tool that can prevent drain clogs. However, you have to know the right way to use it. Make sure you’re running a cold stream of water before, during, and after using the unit. After the disposal is clear, keep the water on for approximately 15 to 30 seconds. This allows all debris to flush through your drains fully and into your sewer lines. Otherwise, you may be left with some residue on your pipe walls. This can clog your pipes and make it easier for other debris to get stuck as well.
If you are cooking with grease, make sure to always let it cool and throw it into the trash. Never allow any of it to go down the sink because this will quickly lead to clogs.
Periodically perform maintenance on your garbage disposal. This includes running your disposal at least once daily to prevent any buildup of materials. Grinding a handful of ice cubes can remove residue from the disposal blades. Monthly, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down your drain. Follow that with the same amount of vinegar. After 5 to 10 minutes, flush your drain with hot water. You can also freshen the unit with a few small citrus wedges — never large amounts — and always run water. If you don’t have a disposal, put peels in the trash.
Prompt Professional Attention
If you’re noticing things like slow-moving drains or foul smells coming from your plumbing on a regular basis, contact our team. Other signs of a clog include gurgling sounds coming from drains as air gets stuck in the lines, standing water in your sinks or tubs, or a full-fledged backup. It’s important that you don’t put off scheduling professional maintenance or repairs. If you do, you can end up with a plumbing emergency in the middle of a party.
Consider Plumbing Modifications
It’s possible that the design of your plumbing system makes it harder to minimize clogs. We can install cleanouts that allow for easier maintenance. It may also be necessary to replace sections of old pipe. If there is corrosion on the inside of the pipe, this can result in debris catching on the sides more easily. Modern PVC pipes tend to maintain a much smoother surface inside your plumbing system. Your plumber can verify code and, where appropriate, upsize kitchen branches to 2 inches for better flow.
Addressing Hard Water
Hard water refers to the presence of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water. These hard minerals can accumulate inside your pipes, causing a narrowing over time. This narrowing makes it more likely for debris to accumulate during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year.
You can address hard water concerns by installing a water softener in your home. This device removes hard minerals and replaces them with sodium or potassium ions. You can minimize drain clogs with a water softener. However, you can also improve the health of your skin and hair, reduce water stains on dishes, and improve the taste.
Get Your Home Ready
If you need assistance with your home’s plumbing system this holiday season, our team at Knockout Plumbing & Repipe Inc. in San Jose can help. We can perform routine drain cleaning as well as address clogs. We also work on sewer lines, offering trenchless repair. If you need new fixtures and pipe installation, we provide this as well.
Reach out to us at Knockout Plumbing & Repipe Inc. for drain support in San Jose this holiday season and throughout the year.
