5 Must-Read Plumbing Tips For The Fourth of July

It’s almost Fourth of July weekend, and that typically means many of you will be hosting family gatherings and parties at your home — Independence Day is always a celebration. Whether you have plans to barbeque on the grill, attend a neighborhood picnic or watch local fireworks, a little plumbing know-how can save you from some of your worst party fears — a plumbing disaster!

If you’re hosting a party this weekend, you’ll want to make sure your plumbing and appliances are ready to take the wear and tear that comes with lots of use.

1. Be aware of what you’re putting down your garbage disposal.

Our first piece of advice: don’t use your garbage disposal as a waste receptacle! When you’re making your famous potato or pasta salad, make sure the remnants aren’t thrown down your kitchen sink. Fibrous foods and starchy vegetables are difficult for the blades to grind. Check out this article for a full list of garbage disposal do’s and don’ts.

2. What do you do if your ice maker stops working?

There are many possible causes as to why your ice maker would stop working. First off, make sure water is flowing to the ice maker and there aren’t any kinks in the tubing. If you can’t figure out the issue, give us a call and we’ll help you figure out if it’s a plumbing issue or appliance issue. In the meantime, grab a few bags of ice to have handy!

3. Your toilet clogs!

If your toilet clogs the first thing you need to do is shut off the water valve located behind your toilet before it overflows. Whatever you do, don’t try to re-flush! Find a plunger and carefully plunge the toilet, ensuring you’ve made a tight seal around the hole. Once you’ve finished, turn the water back on and give the toilet a cautious flush to see if you dislodged the clog. If the water rises high, shut it off again and give us a call.

4. You’re running out of hot water from your water heater.

Planning to have guests stay overnight? We suggest that you wait at least 15 minutes in between a shower so hot water can replenish. However, if your system is 8-12 years old and you see signs of corrosion you should consider replacing it.

5. Before the party starts, make sure your gas plumbing system is working.

If you have an outdoor kitchen area, or a grill that attaches to a gas line, make sure it’s working before the party starts! You’ll have a hard time grilling those hamburgers and hot dogs without the gas line working properly.

Whatever happens, don’t stress — Len The Plumber is here to provide you with Same Day Service, 7 Days A Week — including July 4th! Our certified and knowledgeable technicians are always standing by to take care of your plumbing emergencies.  From all of us at Len The Plumber, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and a safe, happy and healthy summer!