It’s the most wonderful time of the year – except when you’ve got a kitchen sink full of dirty dishwater or an overflowing guest toilet.

The holidays are famous for plumbing disasters – whether they happen in the sink, the garbage disposal, or in one your spare bathrooms. The good news is that if you do have a plumbing emergency during the holidays, our plumbing experts are here to get the problem taken care of quickly so you can get back to your merry-making.

Of course, the best way to deal with a plumbing problem in your Eastern LI home is to avoid it in the first place. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Pour any excess grease from roasting pans into a disposable container and let it congeal; then discard the container in the trash. If that’s not possible, clean up oil and grease with paper towels and discard them.
2. Install a simple strainer in your kitchen drain to catch food particles and debris before they get stuck in your pipes.
3. If you have any plumbing issues (like a clogged drain or toilet), take care of them before company arrives.
4. Always use enough water in your garbage disposal, and let it run at least 20-30 seconds to take care of stubborn trash. Be careful about what you put in there, to: avoid any food trash that will cause problems, including:
   • Bones
   • Celery, pumpkin or potato flesh, or other fibrous foods
   • Coffee grounds
   • Egg shells
   • Fruit pits
   • Pasta 
   • GREASE!
5. Remind guests that a toilet is not a garbage pail – TP only!

Avoid Thanksgiving plumbing disasters – if you have a plumbing problem, take care of it before you have a houseful of people. Contact the plumbing experts at Burt’s Reliable today to schedule a plumbing appointment.