The Best Things – And the Worst – You Can Do For Your Home Plumbing During the Holidays

The holidays bring warmth, celebration, and often, a house full of guests. While it’s a joyful season, it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year for your home’s plumbing system. From extra dishes and showers to more frequent toilet use and colder temperatures, your pipes, drains, and appliances get put to the test.

Making smart choices about how you prepare and maintain your plumbing can mean the difference between a smooth holiday season and an expensive emergency. Below, we dive into the best (and worst) things you can do for your home plumbing during the holidays, from grease disposal habits to water heater tune-ups.

Practice Proper Grease Disposal (Best) vs. Pouring Grease Down the Drain (Worst)

One of the most common and damaging holiday plumbing mistakes happens right in the kitchen: pouring grease down the sink. When you cook those delicious roasts, fry bacon for breakfast, or prepare holiday sides with butter and oil, it’s tempting to rinse pans in the sink. However, pouring grease down the drain is a surefire way to clog pipes. As fats, oils, and grease cool, they solidify, sticking to the interior of your pipes and collecting debris, eventually leading to stubborn, pipe-choking blockages.

Instead, the best method of grease disposal is to let it cool in a disposable container and toss it in the trash. Wipe down greasy pans with paper towels before washing, and educate your guests or helpers in the kitchen. Avoiding this mistake alone can save you from an untimely holiday plumbing emergency.

Schedule a Water Heater Tune-Up (Best) vs. Turning Off the Heat When Traveling (Worst)

The demand for hot water spikes during the holidays, especially when your home is full of family and guests. Showers, dishwashing, and laundry can all put stress on your water heater. To avoid cold showers and overworked systems, a water heater tune-up before the holidays is a wise move. This includes checking the temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve, flushing the tank of sediment buildup, and setting the thermostat to 120°F. This ensures your system runs efficiently while meeting the demand for warm water without overheating or posing a scalding hazard.

In contrast, a major mistake homeowners make when leaving town is turning off the heat entirely to save on utility bills. While it may seem harmless, this can cause water in your pipes to freeze, expand, and burst—leading to flooding and costly repairs. Instead of shutting off the heat, keep your thermostat at a minimum of 55°F and consider installing a smart thermostat that allows remote monitoring. This small step can prevent frozen pipes and plumbing disasters while you’re away enjoying the holidays.

Perform Drain Maintenance (Best) vs. Ignoring a Slow Drain (Worst)

With more people using the showers, sinks, and toilets in your home, slow drains can quickly turn into serious clogs. Ignoring a slow drain is risky, especially when your house is full. A sink or tub that’s sluggish to empty today can become completely backed up tomorrow under the added stress of guests and frequent use.

That’s why proactive drain maintenance is essential. Before the holidays arrive, test all your household drains and address any signs of blockage. Use a plunger, plumber’s snake, or natural enzyme cleaner to clear minor buildups, or call in a plumbing professional for more stubborn issues. Making sure your drains are clear before the crowd arrives will help your plumbing system handle the holiday load without issue.

Provide Toilet Education (Best) vs. Flushing Wipes and Other Items (Worst)

Guests may not know your home’s plumbing system the way you do. That’s why a little toilet education can go a long way. The best practice is to ensure only toilet paper goes down the toilet—no wipes, paper towels, feminine products, or anything labeled “flushable.” These items do not break down like toilet paper and can quickly clog pipes and even damage septic systems.

Consider placing a small sign in the guest bathroom that kindly reminds users to only flush toilet paper. Keep a trash can nearby and clearly visible to provide an easy alternative. This minor addition can prevent embarrassing backups and plumbing emergencies, keeping your holiday gathering running smoothly.

Install Exposed Pipe Insulation (Best) vs. Leaving Pipes Vulnerable During Cold Snaps (Worst)

As temperatures drop, pipes located near exterior walls or in unheated areas of your home are at high risk of freezing. Frozen pipes can burst and cause severe water damage, especially if they go unnoticed during a busy holiday weekend. Insulating exposed pipes is one of the best preventative measures you can take during the colder months.

Use foam pipe insulation or heat tape on pipes in basements, garages, crawl spaces, or attics. Pay special attention to those in areas that aren’t heated or that run along outside-facing walls. This exposed pipe insulation can keep your plumbing safe during a sudden freeze and give you peace of mind throughout the holiday season.

Neglecting to insulate these vulnerable pipes—or turning off your home’s heat while traveling—can be a recipe for disaster. Not only could you return to a flooded home, but the damage may be extensive enough to require major repairs just when you’d rather be enjoying a restful start to the new year.

Don’t Overwork the Garbage Disposal (Worst)

While the garbage disposal may seem like a miracle appliance, it is not designed to handle everything. Overworking the disposal is one of the worst things you can do for your kitchen plumbing, especially during the holidays when you’re generating more food waste than usual. Stringy vegetables like celery, starchy potato peels, bones, coffee grounds, and eggshells are all notorious for damaging or jamming garbage disposals.

Even more dangerous is trying to stuff too much food waste into the disposal at once. This not only causes jams but can also strain your plumbing and lead to clogs further down the line. Instead, feed scraps into the disposal slowly with running cold water, and avoid putting in anything that should go in the trash or compost.

If you’re preparing large meals, consider scraping plates into the trash before rinsing and encourage guests to do the same. This keeps your disposal running smoothly and protects your drains from unnecessary strain.

Conclusion

Your plumbing system works overtime during the holidays, and small mistakes can quickly lead to costly and inconvenient problems. By focusing on the best habits—such as proper grease disposal, drain maintenance, water heater tune-ups, toilet education, and pipe insulation—you can keep your home running efficiently and avoid calling a plumber during your celebration.

At the same time, avoiding the worst practices—like pouring grease down the drain, overworking the garbage disposal, flushing wipes, ignoring slow drains, and turning off the heat—will protect your plumbing and prevent emergencies that could ruin the holiday spirit.

A little preparation goes a long way. Your guests (and your wallet) will thank you for taking these smart steps to safeguard your plumbing system during the most wonderful time of the year.