The decorations are down, the guests have gone home, and your house is finally quiet again. But now your kitchen sink is draining slowly, your garbage disposal sounds different, and you swear the water pressure is worse than it was before Thanksgiving.
Welcome to post-holiday plumbing reality. Your system just worked harder than it does all year, and sometimes it shows.
What The Holidays Do To Your Plumbing
Think about the last six weeks. You probably hosted at least one big meal, maybe several. Extra people stayed over and took showers. The washing machine ran constantly with all those extra towels and linens. Your dishwasher cycled multiple times a day instead of once.
All that extra use puts stress on plumbing systems, especially in older Dawsonville and North Georgia homes that were not designed for modern water usage patterns. Small problems that were manageable before can turn into real issues after weeks of heavy holiday use.
Check Your Garbage Disposal First
Your garbage disposal took a beating. Turkey skin, potato peels, stuffing remnants, vegetable scraps, and all those little bits from cooking multiple holiday meals add up.
Run your disposal with cold water for 30 seconds even if nothing is in there. Listen for grinding sounds, unusual vibrations, or anything that seems off. If it smells funky, grind up some ice cubes and citrus peels to clean the blades and freshen things up.
If your disposal is jammed, humming but not turning, or leaking underneath, call for service before you make it worse trying to fix it yourself.
Look At Your Drains
Walk through your house and test every drain. Kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and the washing machine drain. Do they empty quickly or does water sit there longer than it should?
Slow drains after the holidays usually mean grease buildup in kitchen lines or hair and soap scum accumulation in bathroom drains. These problems only get worse if you ignore them.
Never pour chemical drain cleaners down slow drains as a first response. They can damage pipes, create dangerous fumes, and often do not solve the underlying problem. A plunger or a call to your plumber is safer and more effective.
Check Your Water Heater
Your water heater worked overtime heating water for all those extra showers, dishwasher cycles, and laundry loads. Now is a good time to check on it.
Look around the base of your water heater for any pooling water or damp spots. Listen for unusual popping, rumbling, or banging sounds. Check the temperature of your hot water to make sure it is still heating properly.
If you notice anything unusual or if your unit is over eight years old and was heavily used during the holidays, consider scheduling a professional inspection and flush. This simple maintenance can extend the life of your water heater and prevent a mid-winter failure.
Test Your Water Pressure
Turn on multiple faucets and showers at the same time. Does the pressure drop significantly? This could indicate problems with your pressure regulator, mineral buildup in pipes, or even a hidden leak that developed during heavy usage periods.
When To Call For Help
You do not need to call a plumber every time a drain runs a little slow. But if you notice persistent problems, multiple fixtures acting up, unusual sounds, leaks, or anything that concerns you, get it checked out now while it is still a small problem.
Call North Georgia Rooter for a post-holiday plumbing inspection in Dawsonville and throughout North Georgia. We will make sure your system is ready to handle the rest of winter without surprises.