The holidays can be a demanding time for everyone, and that’s no less true for our plumbing. Before your guests come over to celebrate, make sure your home is ready for them with these quick DIY tips from the experts at Stallion Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

1. UNCLOG THE DRAINS.

If you have guests staying at your home for the holidays, there’s nothing worse than a tub, shower or sink that doesn’t drain fast enough. But chemical solvents can eat away at your pipes, increasing the likelihood of expensive leaks later on. What’s a homeowner to do?

The answer is surprisingly simple, and it uses something you already have in your cabinets. Boil a pot of water and add two tablespoons of salt to the pot. Then, slowly and carefully pour it down the slow drain. This should dissolve residue inside the drain and move it along the pipe, making your drain flow more freely.

2. FIX THE SHOWERHEAD.

There’s nothing worse than a low-pressure showerhead, and that’s particularly true when a hot shower is your only respite from the cold weather outside. But there’s no need to rush out and buy a new, expensive fixture just yet. Instead, try soaking the showerhead in a mixture of one cup water to one cup white vinegar for an hour. This should eliminate any limescale buildup that was blocking the tiny nozzles.

3. STOP THE LEAKS.

Leaky faucets aren’t just irritating, they could be costing you hundreds of dollars a year. But you might not need to spend hundreds of dollars just to fix them. Replacing the cartridge is cheap, often only takes 10 to 15 minutes and ensures that your faucets only run when you turn the handle. Replacement cartridges for most faucet brands can be found online or in big box home improvement stores.

4. SILENCE THE TOILET.

Some people find the sound of running water relaxing, but when that noise is coming from your toilet, it’s just a headache. Most of the time, this can be solved by just replacing the flapper or adjusting the water level in the tank. Both of these tasks are simple enough for any homeowner.

For more serious problems, like pipe blockages or sewer backups, give us a call at (215) 461-3635 or contact Stallion online.