Unfortunately, large crowds can put a major strain on your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line systems.

Want to beat the stress before it strikes? Ready to keep your mind off of your plumbing, and on your houseful of guests? Here are five easy ways to get your home ready for guests this summer…

1.) Get Your Toilet Ready

Is your toilet ready to handle the extra volume that a bunch of house guests – not to mention mountains of food and plenty of drinks – are sure to bring?

Before your friends and family show up for summer fun, it’s important to make sure your toilet is ready. Give it a quick plunge as a “jump start,” then leave the plunger out so guests can use it if necessary. For a particularly problematic toilet, consider hydro-jetting or snaking the drainbefore the party, or have a plumber come and give your unit the once over.

2.) Have Plenty of Trash and Recycling Cans

Odds are, a summer get-together means barbecue, fruit plates, plastic cups, napkins, and all sorts of other trash. Before the party, put out plenty of cans for garbage and recycling to make sure your guests can safely and easily get rid of unwanted refuse.

In particular, make sure you have a visible, clean trash can in your kitchen and bathroom, in order to…

3.) Encourage Good Drain Habits

Surrounded by friends, sunshine, and music, it can be tempting to get rid of excess food or trash by simply dumping it all down a drain. Maybe you sweep food into your sink, maybe a distracted houseguest gets rid of an unwanted orange by flushing it down a toilet. These bad habits add up – and can wreak major havoc on your plumbing down the line.

On your own end, be sure to not put anything down the drain that shouldn't go down the drain, including cooking grease, egg shells, or leftover meats and cheeses. For your guests, encourage drain awareness by putting up gentle reminder signs in the bathroom and kitchen, encouraging your guests to only flush toilet paper down the toilet and to make sure trash and recycling wind up in the appropriate bins.

4.) Prepare Outdoors

Before your guests hang out on your deck or sprawl out on your lawn, make sure they’ll be as comfortable as can be by checking on your outdoor plumbing. Before the party, inspect your outdoor spigots to make sure they’re in proper working condition, and check out your home’s gutters and hose bib. If you’re planning to water your lawn or garden for your guests, make sure your hose is free of kinks and that you unplug it when you’re done in order to help conserve water.

5.) Make Sure Your HVAC is Up to the Task

Will you be cranking up your air conditioning to accommodate your guests? Will people be pouring in and out of your home, opening windows and doors? All of this can put a major strain on your HVAC system. For the sake of your party, make sure your HVAC will be ready to shine. 

Before the start of the summer party season, make sure you get your cooling system inspected by a certified pro. And if you’re noticing any troubling HVAC warning signs – including excess dust, loud noises, or inconsistent temperatures – have your system inspected before it can cause discomfort for you and your guests.

That’s where Combat Plumbing comes in! Drop us a line today for all of your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line needs. Our professional, experienced team is here and happy to help, day or night!