Holiday Plumbing Preparedness

Shawn Folks • November 19, 2018

The holidays are here! This means guests and family will be arriving soon and the time to prep your home is now! While prepping, don’t forget about the little things that could turn into big things if not maintained properly. When you have increased guests in your home due to the holidays, there is an increased use of your plumbing system. Prepare for common issues now so you won’t have to deal with them later!


HOT WATER

If you have overnight guests this holiday season, cleaning and bathing is a big deal. Prevent running out of hot water by turning up your tank water heater to maximize its capability and help the hot water last longer.


CLOGGED GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND DRAINS

This is a messy and inconvenient problem to have during the holidays. Thanksgiving involves lots of cooking and cleaning for most American families. Your holiday can quickly become a catastrophe if this process is interrupted.


Protect your garbage disposal and prevent it from jamming up by watching what kind of foods you put in it. For instance, excessive potato skins and fibrous veggies such as celery tangle the disposal system and prevent it from doing its’ job.

Avoid putting any fats, oils and grease down your drains. These harden as they cool, building up on the walls of your pipes causing stubborn clogs. Instead, set them aside and let them cool before disposing them in the garbage.


TOILET CLOGS

Be sure you have a wastebasket available for guests to throw away trash. You’d be surprised by the items guests put down the toilet! Anything from food to paper plates can easily clog up a toilet drain.


LEAKS

Minor drips or leaks are easy to ignore, but they can grow quickly and turn into a huge mess. Even the smallest leaks can easily waste gallons of water throughout the year if not addressed. Leaks may also be the cause of pipe corrosion, which should be fixed to avoid a pipe rupture later on.

CONTACT US
Commercial Properties after Flood
By Taylor Millet July 23, 2025
Commercial property damage in New Orleans demands more than basic repairs. Protect your business with expert reconstruction services that respect historic architecture and help you reopen quickly after disaster.
Property After Natural Disaster
By Zack Klein July 16, 2025
Taking the right steps after a storm protects your property and speeds recovery. Assess damage, begin cleanup, and rely on expert restoration services to manage repairs after hurricanes or severe weather on the Gulf Coast.
By Christina Mullins July 9, 2025
Saying Hi to July! The summer is here—and so is the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. No matter what it brings, you can be assured that our team at Guarantee Restoration Services will be there when you need us most. Meet the Team: Marcela Argueta Every month, I have the opportunity to showcase our many awesome team members. For July, we are shining the spotlight on Marcela Argueta , who serves as a Lead Technician at our New Orleans location. She was promoted to that position in January 2025 . From Honduras to GRS Marcela was born and raised in La Ceiba, Honduras , also known as “la novia de Honduras” —which translates to “the bride of Honduras.” She moved to the U.S. in December 2016 after earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras . Marcela is currently approved and ready to take her exam to become a registered nurse in the U.S. Before joining our team in August 2022 , she worked as both a nurse and a homemaker . Life Outside of Work Marcela is a proud mother of two—her son, Sebastian (15) and daughter, Eleanor (5) . When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her children and extended family. Fun fact: her half-sister, Brenda , also works at GRS in our Baton Rouge office! One of Marcela’s favorite pastimes is going for walks in the park. She says she often uses this time to meditate and reflect—thinking about what she’s done well and what she could improve.
VIEW ALL BLOGS