The holiday season is a special time of year in North Houston, as families gather together to give thanks and share in the festive spirit of the season. While the winter holidays are undoubtedly an exciting time for everyone, they can be taxing on your home’s plumbing.
At Rooter-Man, our main priority is customer satisfaction. With over 60 years of combined experienced and over a decade in business, our friendly North Houston plumbing problem experts are ready 24 hours a day to ensure your holiday functions flow smoothly.
Here are simple solutions to five of the most embarrassing and common holiday plumbing problems.
Garbage disposal problems
No one wants a broken, smelly garbage disposal! Although they might be pretty tough but they aren’t meant for disposing of fats, grease, and oils. These should be allowed to solidify before being thrown in the trash. Similarly, hard kitchen waste such as bones and starchy vegetable peels are better off in the garbage or compost pile. Remember to always run cold water when your garbage disposal is on. To remove foul odors, trying running cold water while feeding ice into your garbage disposal to remove debris. White vinegar, table salt, and even citrus rinds are also excellent alternatives. Environmentally friendly drain cleaners work best for strong, stubborn odors.
Not enough hot water
How annoying and embarrassing is it to run out of hot water, especially with guests around! You may be able to boost your water heater’s capacity to meet the increased demand by turning it up. This may supply enough hot water for dishes, laundry, and showers for you and your guests. For comfort and safety, never turn the temperature past 125 degrees. To avoid this problem altogether, consider having a tankless hot water heater installed.
Clogged shower drain
The only thing worse than a cold shower is a backed up shower due to a clogged drain. This happens when debris such as hair and soap residue build up and prevent water from properly draining. Not only can this gross out your guests, but it can cause problems down the road. Cleaning your drain on a regular basis will prevent this, so be sure to do so before your guests arrive. Installing a drain screen is an effective way to minimize the amount of debris that gets washed down the drain.
Clogged toilet
Waste items such as cigarette butts, cotton swabs, paper towels, and even “flushable” wipes can cause clogged toilets in no time. These items are best disposed of the in trash, so be sure to keep a waste basket close or next to your toilet for easy disposal. After all, no one wants the embarrassment of being “the one” who clogged the toilet! Keep a plunger nearby for unexpected clogs. Sometimes a toilet may continue to clog despite these measures due to having the incorrect water level or a flapper that only partially opens when the toilet is flushed, so be sure to consider these areas as well.
Wobbly toilet handles
Do you really want to have to warn your guests about your loose toilet handle? Of course not! Chains with too much length and slack are often the reason behind loose toilet handles. Due to the excess length, the chain slides under the flapper when the toilet is flushed and allows water to continue to run. Jiggling the handles releases the chain and allows the flapper to fall back into its proper place. You can tighten loose toilet handles simply by shortening the chain or just give us a call and we can do so in no time! Be on the lookout for damaged or worn flapper as this can also lead to similar issues.
Avoid the inconvenience of North Houston holiday plumbing problems by giving Rooter-Man a call. From clogged drains and toilets to garbage disposal maintenance, it’s always Rooter-Man to the rescue!