How to Avoid a Kitchen Plumbing Disaster This Winter Season

When you want to cook and entertain during the holiday season, you need to make sure your plumbing is ready to handle the challenge. From grease buildup to handling your drains, make sure your pipes are in top working order to prevent plumbing disasters this season. The team at Torch Service Company is always here for all your Owasso plumbing repairs, maintenance, and new installation needs. We also have holiday HVAC tips from the pros.

Keep Grease and Oil Out of the Sink

One of the most important things you can do for your Owasso kitchen plumbing is to keep grease out of your pipes. Never throw hot grease down your sink, even if it seems like it’s harmless and will slide right down. When grease solidifies, it quickly sticks to your pipes and starts to develop large, stubborn clogs by catching food scraps, coffee grounds, and foreign objects along with it. 

Instead, wait for the grease to solidify before disposing of it in the garbage, or collect it in a glass jar and discard it once it’s full. The same thing goes for oil. Even a little oil can wreak havoc on your pipes and needs to be tossed instead of thrown down your sink. 

Use Drain Traps

A simple drain trap from the hardware store can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It catches food scraps, eggshells, foreign objects, and other items from going down your pipes. Simply remove the trap and toss out the junk before getting back to cooking. It will save you a plumbing emergency down the road and avoid time, stress, and money.

Be Mindful About Food Scraps

Just like grease, small amounts of food can seem harmless when it goes down your pipes.It’s tempting to let food go down your sink, especially when you’re in the middle of holiday cooking and cleanup with a houseful of guests. But even a little food can create larger clogs and lead to backups, burst pipes, and costly plumbing repairs. Toss all of your food scraps into the trash and keep them out of your plumbing. 

Remember, a Garbage Disposal is Preventative

Despite the name, a garbage disposal isn’t a device to throw all of your holiday food scraps into, flip the switch, and hope for the best. That kind of work is best suited for a trash compactor. Instead, a garbage disposal prevents food scraps that go down your drain from making their way deeper into your pipes. It breaks down food into smaller particles that can be flushed out, reduce odors, and prevent clogs. You should still avoid throwing eggshells, coffee grinds, shellfish, celery, bones, grease, oil, fats, pasta, and potato peels into your garbage disposal. 

Use the Right DIY Remedies to Maintain Your Pipes

Your pipes need maintenance, but it’s important to use the right DIY remedies. Always avoid using caustic cleaners and drain openers, like Drano. Instead, use vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water. You can also use a clean plunger in your sinks, bathtubs, and showers to try to move through light clogs and backups. If a gentle and proactive approach fails to resolve the issue, contact the Torch Service Company team.

Schedule Periodic Drain Cleaning

Even with the most meticulous drain and plumbing practices, periodic drain cleaning is necessary. The holidays are the perfect time to prevent a plumbing emergency. Schedule professional drain cleaning with the pros. Give us a call, and we’ll come out to flush out your Tulsa drains and sewers or use our Owasso powerful hydro jetting technique that uses a powerful stream of water to blast through stubborn clogs, even in your sewer line.

Educate Your Household Guests

The holidays usher in time with family and friends, but well-meaning guests can also bring misguided help in the kitchen. Make sure your guests know you would like any food scraps thrown in the garbage, including coffee grounds and oil, to avoid any untimely plumbing issues that can interrupt special holiday time.

Call the Team at Torch Service Company for All Your Plumbing Needs

The team at Torch Service Company is always here for all of your plumbing needs, whether it’s the holidays or an average afternoon in the middle of the year. From drain cleaning to emergency plumbing repairs and new installations, we’re always here to help. Give us a call, and we’ll send out one of our Tulsa area plumbers to address all of your plumbing service needs.