There are many reasons why people seek the help of plumbers during the winter months; burst pipes, leaking taps and boiler issues are all in peak season, but there are also other costly dangers that can come during the festive period. With experts warning of the expensive issues caused by disposing of unwanted food and drink incorrectly, the plumbing pros at Yell Business have offered their advice on how to avoid this common festive plumbing emergency.
Which festive food and drinks can damage your drains?
Christmas dinner is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festive season but there are plenty of Yuletide products that can cause plumbing issues.Anything that contains fat, oil or cream can cause an unwanted sink blockage that will likely need remedying by a professional. Some of the most common culprits include pouring leftover turkey fat down the drainwhich, when it cools, can harden to form a blockage or burst a pipe. The ever-popular Irish cream liqueurs with their high cream content can alsoproduce a similar effect if tipped down the sink after one too many!
How much does it cost to fix a blocked or burst pipe in your home?
Costs can vary, particularly over the Christmas period and due to the time of day or location, however Philip Hill of Leicestershire-based Servo-Rod says that “unblocking a pipe caused by pouring fat, grease or oil down the sink will cost between £80-£120 dependent on how easy it is to access the pipe and whether any further damage has been caused.”
If you’re calling out a plumber after normal working hours for an emergency or on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day there will also be additional charges that could put the cost of a simple turkey-fat related blockage at around £250 (the equivalent of around 20kg of turkeyor 12 litres of Baileys!).
What should you do with leftover Christmas food and drink instead?
Yell Business’ plumbing expert adds “It’s definitely wise to think twice about the leftover food and drink you put down your sink this Christmas. Prevention is always better than the cure of calling out a plumber, so wait for things like the fat from your Christmas turkey to harden before scraping out into the bin. If it’s oil or cream based, then pour into a sealablecontainer and dispose of it in your general waste.
“When washing greasy pots, add detergent and make sure you’re using the hottest water that your hands can tolerate, as this will help to stop thebuild-up of grease and mean that less goes down the plughole”.
Sarah O’Rafferty, at Yell Business, added: “Christmas is a time of celebration and for many, having a bit of a break after a long year. However simple mistakes, like pouring some turkey fat down the sink, can quickly turn it into a costly problem. At a time when finances are already being stretched, we hope this advice will help people to think twice when disposing of their Christmas waste and in turn avoid having to spend out on a fix that didn’t need to happen!”
