Holiday Plumbing Tips for Laguna Niguel Homes: Getting Through Thanksgiving and Houseguests Without a Leak
Thanksgiving and holiday visits put more strain on a home's plumbing than almost any other week of the year. Practical steps for Laguna Niguel homeowners: what to…
Between Thanksgiving and the new year, many Laguna Niguel homes go from two or three people to a full house. More showers, more laundry, more dishes and a lot of cooking all land on the same pipes, drains and water heater. A little preparation before guests arrive makes it much less likely that a plumbing problem interrupts the holiday.
Before guests arrive
Find and test the main shutoff. Make sure you know where it is and that it turns. In many Laguna Niguel homes it is near the front of the house or in the garage. Show at least one other adult where it is.
Check under sinks. Look at angle stops and supply lines in the kitchen and every bathroom. Replace braided lines that are rusty or bulging and any old plastic lines.
Test toilets. A dye test in each tank shows silent flapper leaks. Guest bathrooms that sit unused for months often have stiff flappers or fill valves.
Run the guest bath. Turn on the shower and sink in any room that has not been used for a while. Let them run a few minutes to clear stale water and check for drips.
Look at the water heater. Note its age and size. If it is near the end of its life, a week of heavy use is when it is most likely to show it. Check the area around it for moisture.
Kitchen habits that protect drains
- Pour cooking fats and grease into a container, let them cool, and throw them in the trash.
- Scrape plates into the trash or green waste bin rather than the sink.
- Avoid putting fibrous or starchy food scraps down a disposal, such as potato peels, celery or large amounts of rice.
- Run cold water before and after using a disposal.
Spread out the hot water demand
With a full house, the water heater can run out. Stagger showers, run the dishwasher overnight and do laundry at different times than showers. Shorter showers help everyone get warm water.
Watch the pressure
Many Laguna Niguel homes sit on hillsides, and some have higher incoming pressure controlled by a regulator. If you notice banging pipes, a toilet that runs after filling or faucets that spit when they open, check pressure with a hose bib gauge before the house fills up.
If something leaks
- Shut off the nearest angle stop, or the main if you cannot find the source.
- Turn off the water heater's supply if the leak is on the hot side.
- Move furniture, rugs and gifts away from the water.
- Take photos for your records and your insurance.
- Call a licensed plumber.
After the holidays
Do a quick walkthrough once guests leave: check under sinks again, look for slow drains and listen for toilets that keep running.
Quick takeaways
- Test the shutoff, toilets and supply lines before guests arrive.
- Keep grease and fibrous scraps out of the drain.
- Spread out showers, dishes and laundry.
- Know exactly what to do if something leaks.
Related reading
On this site, see angle stop replacement and water pressure regulator location. Neighbors can visit Aliso Viejo, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, or browse every city at repipeinc.com.
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Written by Repipe OC · CSLB #1087885 C-36 · 23821 Hillhurst Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 · (949) 524-2362