It’s the 4th of July and you’re hosting a big get-together. Your place is decorated and looks fantastic – you spared no expense this year. The menu is a combination of classic barbecue dishes along with a few new recipes you’ve been wanting to try. You made shopping list after shopping list to ensure you thought of everything. From extra sunscreen to citronella, bug spray to sunscreen, sparklers to lawn chairs, dishes and desserts beyond belief, red, white, and blue napkins, a badminton set and even bocce – you are ready. What else could you have possibly done to get ready for this epic fest? Uh oh. Did you forget about the plumbing system? Yes, there are indeed plumbing preparations that need to be taken care of before your 4th of July bash. However, don’t panic. In this article, there are several helpful suggestions to leave you feeling completely ready for the 4th, plumbing included. Don’t Destroy the Kitchen Sink Garbage disposals have a tendency to fail at the worst possible times. Maybe it’s the night before Thanksgiving and you’re peeling potatoes so you can make mashed potatoes for 15 guests. Or, maybe it’s the morning of July 4th and you’re peeling carrots to make a huge salad and your sink clogs. Whether it’s your garbage disposal, the drain, or both, as you see the vegetable scraps and water level start to rise, you know there’s trouble. Don’t let this happen to you. Limit the amount of food that you put in your sink so that your garbage disposal doesn’t fail, and the drain doesn’t become completely jammed with waterlogged food. Even more importantly, have a plumber inspect your sink and garbage disposal in advance, to verify that everything is working as it should be. Worried about someone dumping hot grease down the drain? It’s a legitimate concern. Many people are unaware of the fact that hot grease wreaks havoc on plumbing. Of course, snapping at a well-meaning guest is certainly not an option; he or she simply didn’t realize that hot grease is like kryptonite for plumbing. To avoid the entire situation, buy some grease traps. They are disposable, they are one less thing to clean, and they are affordable. Avoid Those Toilet Overflows Imagine how mortified one of your guests would be if he or she used the bathroom and accidentally caused the toilet to clog. With some delicate plumbing systems, such as those found in older houses or attached to septic tanks, it takes very little to clog a toilet – even a small amount of toilet paper is enough to do it. Now, normally, when dealing with a clogged toilet, the first step is to shut off the water, grab a plunger and dislodge the obstruction. Once the clog has been cleared, the water can be turned back on and the toilet can be safely flushed. However, if there’s no plunger in the bathroom, imagine how embarrassed your guest would feel trying to explain the situation to you. Not only do you have a potentially messy bathroom to clean up, but you also have a mortified guest who undoubtedly no longer wants to be at the party. A simple solution? Wherever there’s a toilet, there should be a plunger right next to it, ready to spring into action if necessary. Be Sure to Find the Shutoff Valve Do you know where the shutoff valve is that controls the water supply to your entire house? If not, find out as soon as possible, and familiarize yourself with how it works. If you have some sort of flooding emergency, you don’t want to be stuck Googling how to locate and operate the shutoff valve. You need to be able to find the valve and turn it off ASAP until an emergency plumbing service (or, if the situation is severe enough, the fire department). Flooding occurs quickly, is difficult to control and is even harder to mitigate. You certainly don’t need to deal with testing for black mold after you’ve finished drying out your home, fighting a lengthy battle with your insurance company. Now that you’ve read through the tips outlined above, you should feel even more confident about your 4th of July party. When it comes to plumbing, the general rule of thumb is not to put it off until it’s too late and there’s a serious problem to contend with. Don’t wait; schedule an appointment with a plumbing contractor today from A & A Plumbing. And most importantly, have a wonderful Independence Day!