Holiday season = stress test for plumbing. More showers, more dishes, more “why is it gurgling?” Let’s keep your home from auditioning as a geyser and your guests from learning the word “flapper.”
Tip of the Week: Make Your Home Guest‑Proof (10‑Minute Tune‑Up)
Time: ~10 minutes • Tools: Paper towel, cup, flashlight, pliers (maybe)
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Hot water sanity check (2 min):
Set your water heater to ~120°F (49°C) to balance safety and supply. If you have a hybrid/heat‑pump unit, enable “High Demand” mode for company. (No unit? Skip.)
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Faucet & shower pep talk (3 min):
Unscrew the aerators (the little caps at the tip of faucets) and the showerhead. Rinse out grit. For stubborn mineral crust, soak parts in plain vinegar while you do the next steps.
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Under‑sink “can I shut this off?” drill (2 min):
Gently turn each shutoff valve off and back on. If it’s stuck, don’t force it - note it for replacement. Knowing these move can turn a flood into a non‑event.
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Disposal rules of engagement (1 min):
In: small scraps only, cold water running, then run 15 - 20 seconds after it sounds clear.
Out: fats/oils/grease, coffee grounds, shells, rice/pasta (starches swell and make paste).
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Shower schedule hack (2 min):
Stagger showers and laundry. Your water heater isn’t a bottomless brunch.
Pro tip: If you do just one thing today, make it #2. Clean aerators and showerheads = “Wow, new pressure!” without touching the pipes.
Leaky Laugh of the Week
I asked my plumber if he believes in magic. He said, “Only when I pull a toy dinosaur out of a toilet and the kid stops crying.”
Maintenance Minute: The 60‑Second Leak Detective
Silent toilet leaks can waste…a lot. Here’s the quickest check you’ll ever do.
You’ll need: food coloring or a dye tablet.
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Pop the tank lid. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank (not the bowl).
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Wait 10 minutes. Don’t flush.
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See color in the bowl? Your flapper isn’t sealing.
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Quick fix: turn off the supply valve, flush to empty, unclip the old flapper, clip on a matching new one, leave ~¼” slack in the chain, turn water back on. (If any step feels “nope,” call us - flappers are cheap, floors aren’t.)
Win: Lower bill, quieter nights, happier karma.
Weird Thing We Found This Week:
The Great Rice Dam of 2025.
We pulled an entire concrete‑like wall of swollen rice from a kitchen drain. Rice + pasta absorb water, turn to paste, and mortar themselves inside pipes. Even a monster disposal just makes smaller glue.
Takeaway: Trash or compost rice/pasta. Your pipes are not a rice cooker.
☎ ONE CALL CORNER
That’s this week’s flush. If you try the 10‑minute tune‑up, hit reply with your best “before/after” or your weirdest drain discovery - winner gets bragging rights and a new plunger with a cape.*
*Cape not guaranteed. Plunger absolutely is.
Need help right now? Reply “SOS” and tell us what’s happening (pics welcome). We’ll triage and get you unstuck fast.
Thanks for reading. Same time next week? We’ll bring the puns. You bring the plumbing problems.
- The One Call Plumbing Team
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