Thanksgiving week in the valley means more people, more showers, more dishes and a kitchen that runs for hours. Many holiday plumbing problems aren’t dramatic pipe bursts. They’re slow kitchen sinks, a toilet that can’t keep up, a garbage disposal that jams mid-prep, or a water heater that runs out of hot water halfway through the guest showers.
Jason Miller has more than 24 years of plumbing experience. Here’s a short checklist that can head off most of those problems before your guests arrive.
Before Guests Arrive
- Keep grease out of the kitchen sink. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing, and run hot water after you finish. Grease cools and sticks inside drain lines.
- Test every toilet with a normal flush. If one is already slow, get it cleared before the house fills up.
- Check the garbage disposal. Run cold water and listen. If it hums without spinning, turn it off and press the reset button on the bottom before you try anything else.
- Know where your main shut-off is. If a supply line or angle stop fails, you want to reach that valve fast.
- Look at the water heater. Popping or rumbling often means sediment from our hard water. If the heater is already struggling, it’s better to find out before a full house. Our water heater flushing guide explains what’s going on.
During the Holiday
- Scrape plates into the trash. Keep grease, coffee grounds and stringy peels out of the sink and disposal.
- “Flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. Put a small trash can in each guest bathroom.
- Space out showers if your water heater is older or small for the number of people in the house.
- If a drain slows down, stop running water into it and call before it turns into a full backup.
If Overnight Temperatures Drop
Cold nights do happen in the valley. Disconnect garden hoses, cover hose bibs, protect the irrigation backflow, and keep the garage door closed if the water heater lives there. Our guide to protecting pipes from freezing walks through the full list.
When to Call Us
- More than one drain backing up at once, which usually points to the main line
- A sewage smell, gurgling toilets, or water coming up in a tub when the washer drains
- No hot water, a leaking tank, or a disposal that won’t reset
- A pipe that froze or burst after a cold night
For clogs, see our drain cleaning and rooter service or drain cleaning in Henderson. For a main line problem, see sewer line repair in Henderson. For hot water trouble, see our water heater and tankless service page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. We answer 24/7, including Thanksgiving.
Can you clear a kitchen drain the same day?
Call 702-577-5505 and we’ll tell you when we can get there.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner before you arrive?
We don’t recommend it. It rarely fixes a real clog, and it makes the job harder and less safe for anyone who has to open the pipe.
Las Vegas Water Experts is a family owned and operated, licensed, bonded and insured plumbing company serving Las Vegas, Henderson and the surrounding valley, 24/7. See our Las Vegas plumber and Henderson plumber pages, call 702-577-5505, or send us a note through our contact page. NV LIC# 0095727 (C-1D Plumbing).
Leave a Reply