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As you prepare for a day filled with turkey, stuffing, and family, the last thing you want to deal with is a plumbing disaster.

At Total Maintenance Inc., we know how important it is to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape, especially when hosting a large gathering. Let’s dive into some simple but essential tips to prepare your plumbing for a successful Thanksgiving bash!

1. Beware of the Kitchen Grease Trap

As your whipping up your Thanksgiving feast, your kitchen is bound to see a lot of action. One common plumbing mistake during parties is pouring grease, oil, or food scraps down the drain. While it might seem harmless at the time, these materials can cause clogs that build up over time.

To avoid a kitchen disaster, remind everyone in your household (even guests) to scrape food into the trash before rinsing dishes. If you want to be extra cautious, place a strainer over your kitchen sink to catch any rogue food particles.

2. Treat Your Garbage Disposal Kindly

The garbage disposal can be a handy tool when prepping for your dinner, but it’s not invincible. Tossing the wrong items into the disposal can cause jams or damage to the blades, leading to a breakdown. Avoid putting fibrous or starchy foods like turkey bones, potato peels, and corn husks down the disposal.

Remember, the garbage disposal is for small, soft food scraps only. If you’re unsure whether something can go down the disposal, tossing it in the trash is safer.

3. Prepare Your Bathrooms for High Traffic

With guests in and out of your home, your bathrooms are bound to get extra use. A clogged toilet can quickly turn a festive evening into a stressful one, so it’s best to do preventive maintenance beforehand.

First, make sure all toilets are in good working condition. If your toilet has been running constantly or showing signs of a slow flush, now is the time to address it. Also, keep a plunger handy in each bathroom, just in case. Stocking your bathroom with plenty of toilet paper and a small trash can also helps prevent guests from flushing items that don’t belong down the toilet, such as tissues or food wrappers (you’d be surprised!).

4. Check for Hidden Leaks Before the Party

It’s easy to overlook minor plumbing issues when you’re busy planning a party, but hidden leaks in your faucets, toilets, or pipes can cause big problems if ignored. Before your guests arrive, take a few minutes to check for any dripping faucets, leaking pipes under the sink, or water stains around the base of your toilet.

5. Get a Professional Inspection Before the Big Event

If you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving gathering or haven’t had your plumbing inspected in a while, scheduling a professional plumbing checkup might be worthwhile before the big evening. At TMI, we offer comprehensive inspections to make sure your pipes, drains, and fixtures are all in good condition. A quick inspection can help identify potential problems before they become emergencies, ensuring your gathering goes off without a hitch.

Plumbing Experts in the Quad Cities

Thanksgiving is meant to be filled with food and memories instead of plumbing disasters. By taking a few precautionary steps to prepare your home’s plumbing system, you can enjoy a stress-free evening with your guests and avoid a nightmare.

At TMI, we’re here to help keep your plumbing in top shape, whether you need a quick repair before the feast or a full inspection. Give us a call at 563.900.8788, and we’ll make sure your home is ready for the festivities!