Between the extra cooking, cleaning and overnight guests, it’s no wonder that plumbing problems are more likely to occur over the holidays than any other time of year. Yet by keeping a few important plumbing tips in mind, you can help ensure that your holiday season is problem free.

Consider these tips to prevent any plumbing mishaps from happening in your home.

Scrape Leftovers in the Trash

When it’s time to clean up, scrape the leftovers off your dishes into the trash, not the drain, especially if you don’t have garbage disposal. One of the easiest ways to prevent unwanted leftovers from going down the drain is to use an inexpensive sink strainer. Once you’re done washing off your dishes, you can simply dump the collected waste in the garbage or compost bin.

Use the Disposal Wisely

There are many food items that can cause serious damage to a garbage disposal and clog the drains. Be sure to avoid putting the following foods down the drain:

• Fibrous or stringy foods, such as celery or string beans
• Rice, pasta, or bread-based products
• Animal bones
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds
• Cooking oils, grease, and fat

Wait 10-15 Minutes Between Showers

If you’re hosting guests overnight, ask them to space out the time between showers to about 10 or 15 minutes. This not only allows your hot water supply to replenish but also gives your drains an opportunity to clear out. Also, use a strainer over the shower drain to catch hair and prevent a clog.

Don’t Treat Toilets Like Trash Pails

Your toilets are probably going to have to work a bit harder than usual over the holidays. Make sure your guests know not to flush bathroom items that commonly clog household toilets, such as:

• Sanitary napkins
• Feminine hygiene products
• Wipes (yes, even “flushable” ones)
• Paper towels
• Facial pads
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Cigarette butts

Dispose of F.O.G Properly

F.O.G. (fat, oil, grease) is one of the greatest threats to your plumbing. When hot, F.O.G may seem like any other liquid. But once cooled, it quickly congeals and solidifies in your drain, restricting the flow of water and catching other materials until it results in a major clog. Wipe as much F.O.G off pots and pans or pour it into a can that can be tossed into the garbage.

Run the Dishwasher Last

It can be tempting to run the dishwasher while you continue to clean other dishes. However, because the dishwasher and the garbage disposal typically share the same drain, running the disposal or pouring anything into the sink can push that waste back up into the dishwasher’s cleaning cycle. And if your drains become clogged, running the dishwasher could cause the water to back up and flood your kitchen.

Be Proactive

Avoid plumbing mishaps by scheduling a plumbing system inspection with Best Choice Plumbers. We’ll make sure your drains, toilets, water heater, and other parts of  your plumbing system are in good working order to help you avoid unexpected repairs. And should something go wrong, we’re standing by to handle your plumbing emergencies so you can get back to enjoying the holidays with your loved ones. Contact us today or anytime you need us.

Sometimes, a problem arises in a drain or pipe that prevents water and other liquids from flowing through as they should. More often than not, a few quick thrusts of a plunger or a little drain cleaner gets this moving again. But when a clog resists conventional means of clearing it, it may be time to employ a specially designed camera to inspect the pipe.

Today we’re discussing how a camera plumbing inspection works, its benefits, and when you may need such a service.

How Does a Drain Camera Inspection Work?

A drain camera inspection allows us to inspect a home’s pipes more thoroughly to locate a clog and determine its cause. A sewer video camera is connected to a flexible cable and inserted into a drain or the main sewer line cleanout of a home. Using a monitor, we can watch as the camera moves through the plumbing line to detect clogs or damage. It’s a non-invasive way to get a real-time visual of your plumbing system.

Camera Inspection Benefits

• It can considerably reduce the overall cost of a pipe repair by delivering a proper diagnosis.
• Because it’s non-invasive, it can greatly reduce damage to your property from trenching.
• It can reveal minor problems that, if ignored, can turn into more costly and damaging issues.
• It provides video proof of the condition of your pipes.
• It can be used to locate lost valuables.

When to Have a Camera Inspection Performed

In addition to determining the location and cause of a stubborn clog, a camera inspection can be helpful in the following instances:

• Locate Hidden Leaks: While some leaks leave obvious clues, others, especially those hidden behind walls or under your home, aren’t so easy to find. A camera inspection can help your plumber quickly pinpoint the location of a leak so water damage is minimized.
• Learn More about Your Pipes: A camera inspection can reveal corrosion or weakness in your plumbing system. In some cases, it can also detect whether a collapsed pipe is in your future so you can take appropriate action.
• Evidence for Insurance Purposes: A camera inspection offers visual evidence of the condition of your pipes. If you’re submitting a claim to your insurance company, they may want to see the exact condition of the pipes and the location of the problem.
• Know What You’re Buying: If you’re buying a home, a camera inspection takes the mystery out of the plumbing system. Is there a beautiful large tree near the house? Its roots may be clogging and damaging underground pipes which can cost thousands of dollars in repairs and leave you with a messy, dug up yard.

Need to Schedule an Inspection?

If you’re experiencing plumbing problems and can’t figure out where they’re coming from, call Best Choice Plumbers today. We can help you figure out what’s going on with your pipes and take care of any necessary repairs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your drain/sewer camera inspection.

Well, if you’ve just had it plunged, snaked, or otherwise unclogged, it might just say: “Thanks, I needed that.”

But then you go back to your regular routine, ignoring what made it clog up in the first place. What would your drain have to say about that? Sorry, but its answer isn’t fit to print.

The point is, most clogged drains and toilets can be prevented. Not all, but most. All it takes is a little discipline and follow-through.

Here are a few tips for the wise:

• Keep a mesh basket handy to collect food particles.
• Never pour grease, oil, or shortening down the kitchen drain or garbage disposal.
• Periodically clean your kitchen drain with a half cup each of baking soda and distilled white vinegar. Allow that to sit and bubble for about a half hour, and then flush with boiling water.
• Use a compost bucket to collect food scraps and improve the environment.
• Brush your hair before you get in the shower to remove loose hairs.
• Wash your pet outside or in a washtub indoors.

That’s kitchen and bathroom stuff, and only a partial list. Here’s what you can do to help prevent a clogged toilet.

• Don’t use it as a waste basket or toy box.
• Toilet bowls weren’t meant to be ashtrays, either.
• Spoiler alert: there’s no such thing as a flushable wipe – they do not fully dissolve.
• In short, flush only what your toilet was meant for – no need to explain any further.
• Install a mesh cup between the drain cover and the pipe. To clean the drain, you’ll need to unscrew the drain cover and empty the mesh cup regularly. This method will significantly improve the water flow in your bathroom pipes.

There are more ways to keep water flowing through your drain lines free and clear. But heed these tips and you’ll be off to a great start. Still, when trouble comes your way, contact Best Choice Plumbers and, before you know it, we’ll be on our way to your house to resolve your clogged drain problem, large or small.

That all sounds very positive, right? Well, it IS very positive. But that doesn’t mean everything we place in our drains belongs there.

Here, for example, is a list of many of the most common causes of household drain clogs:

• Using a toilet like a trash bin – Toilets are meant to flush only two things: toilet paper and human waste. Anything else poses a risk of a clogged toilet.

• Using a drop-in toilet freshener – You may love the color blue in your toilet bowl, but these tablets often contain chemicals that wear out working parts inside the tank.

• Pouring FOG down your kitchen sink drain – In this instance, FOG stands for “fats, oil and grease.” Yes, they’re in liquid form once poured down your drain, but over time they solidify and create a formidable barrier, one that eventually can stop the flow of water completely.

• Paints & cleaning products – These products increase the risk of a clogged drain and pollute the environment with phosphates, antibacterial agents and other additives.

Things You Can’t Always Control

Outdoors, you have invisible (to the naked eye) underground sewer pipes. All kinds of things can happen to them that can eventually sneak up on you. Soil can shift, for example, thus causing a separation of two adjoining pipes. Or, if your drain lines are near trees or shrubs, their roots can penetrate the pipes in search of the very material being flushed away. Once inside, roots can grow and multiply until nothing can get past them.

Still, home drainage problems affect even the most conscientious of homeowners. If you’re experiencing such a problem, contact the pros at Best Choice Plumbers. We truly are your best choice to return your drains to full working order.