Super Bowl parties are a great way to socialize with friends and family but added strain on a home’s plumbing system can lead to a super disaster. Think about it. You’ve got more people, plenty drinks and a big spread of food – toss in extra stress from blown calls by the refs and the drainage system could get overwhelmed.
To help party hosts avoid clogs, overflows and bathroom mishaps the experts at Forrest Anderson Plumbing and AC offer these simple tips.
• Chicken wings are traditional at Super Bowl parties, but never put the bones or skin down the garbage disposal as it will ruin the blades. The same goes for the cooking oil, which can solidify and clog pipes. Instead, put the oil in a can and toss it in the garbage after it cools.
• Pasta salad is a great side dish, but noodles clog pipes, so put scraps in the garbage instead of down the drain. The same goes for rice and coffee grounds, as well as peelings from fibrous vegetables like carrots and celery which can get stuck and cause the sink to back up.
• Turn on the garbage disposal and run the water before dumping in scraps. Make sure to let the water run a couple of minutes afterwards.
• Before the game starts, locate the water shut-off valve under the toilet tank in case of an emergency and test it out just in case.
• Flushable wipes can clog pipes and should only go into a wastebasket. Consider removing them from the bathroom altogether to avoid an overflow.
• Everyone dreads the walk of shame, so put a toilet plunger in every bathroom, as well as a wastebasket so guests don’t throw trash in the toilet.
If a home has older plumbing or pipes run slowly, call in the special teams at Forrest Anderson for a pre-game inspection of garbage disposals, drains, pipes and toilets. For more great tips on avoiding costly fumbles, visit the Forrest Anderson website at http://forrestanderson.net/.
