Holiday Cooking & Plumbing Tips for Buffalo and Western New York Homes
Gideon’s Plumbing Helps You Cook, Clean, and Celebrate Without Kitchen Plumbing Emergencies
Holiday meals are the heart of the season. The holidays are full of baking cookies, roasting turkeys, simmering sauces, and preparing dishes for friends and family. But behind the scenes, your plumbing is working overtime. Extra grease, food scraps, and heavy water use can quickly overwhelm drains, garbage disposals, and kitchen plumbing systems.
At Gideon’s Plumbing, we’ve helped homeowners across Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg prepare their kitchens for the holiday rush and avoid costly plumbing issues. With thoughtful preparation and a few smart habits, you can cook stress-free all season long.
Here are the essential holiday plumbing tips every home chef needs.
1. Never Pour Grease or Oils Down the Drain
Grease is one of the top causes of holiday plumbing emergencies. Even if it’s liquid when hot, it solidifies as it cools coating pipes with sticky buildup.
Avoid putting these down your drain:
• Turkey or ham drippings
• Bacon grease
• Butter and melted fats
• Gravy and oily sauces
Instead, pour grease into a heat-safe container, let it solidify, and throw it away.
Even a small amount can cause a clog when combined with food scraps.
2. Use Your Garbage Disposal Carefully
Holiday cooking means scraps – lots of them. However, your garbage disposal isn’t built to handle everything.
Keep the disposal running smoothly by not putting these items down it:
• Potato peels
• Eggshells
• Bones
• Pasta and rice
• Onion skins
• Fibrous foods like celery, pumpkin, or artichokes
• Coffee grounds
These items can wrap around blades, expand inside pipes, or create stubborn clogs.
Do this instead:
• Run cold water before and after using the disposal
• Feed scraps slowly
• Dispose of large quantities in the trash
If your disposal starts making strange noises or stops working, Gideon’s Plumbing can repair or replace it with excellent service.
3. Use Sink Strainers to Stop Food From Entering Drains
With all the cooking happening, small bits of food start slipping into drains fast. Over time, they can create buildup that leads to slow drains or complete blockages.
Place sink strainers over both sides of the sink to catch:
• Seeds
• Peels
• Food scraps
• Silverware the grandkids accidentally drop
They’re inexpensive, effective, and save you from major plumbing repairs later.
4. Space Out Dishwasher and Sink Use
Your dishwasher and sink often share the same drainage line. During holiday cooking marathons, that line can become overwhelmed.
To avoid backups:
• Run the dishwasher in between cooking tasks
• Avoid washing large amounts of dishes during peak cooking times
• Give the sink a break while the dishwasher drains
Overloading the line can result in water backing up into the sink or worse.
5. Clean Your Disposal and Drains Before Cooking Begins
A clean disposal and drain system works better and is less likely to clog under heavy holiday use.
Before your big cooking day:
• Run a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain
• Flush with hot water
• Grind a few ice cubes and lemon peels (for freshening—not cleaning grease)
If you notice slow drainage or gurgling sounds, call Gideon’s Plumbing. It’s far easier to fix problems before the holiday cooking rush begins.
6. Protect Your Kitchen From Kids and Guests
When you’re busy cooking, guests and grandkids often wander into the kitchen and can unintentionally cause plumbing issues.
A few simple precautions can help:
• Keep stools away from the sink (kids love buttons and switches)
• Make sure guests know not to scrape plates into the sink
• Keep plastics, foil, and packaging far from the drain
• Don’t let anyone rinse paint, glitter, or craft supplies in the sink
Set boundaries early to protect both your plumbing and your cooking flow.
7. Schedule a Pre-Holiday Kitchen Plumbing Check
The best way to avoid holiday emergencies is to make sure your plumbing is in great shape before cooking season begins.
A Gideon’s Plumbing kitchen inspection includes:
• Garbage disposal testing
• Drain flow evaluations
• Leak checks around sinks and dishwashers
• Water pressure and faucet performance check
• Inspection of exposed kitchen pipes
• Hot water capacity assessment
We serve Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg with excellent service and dependable plumbing solutions designed for busy holiday households.
Enjoy Stress-Free Holiday Cooking
Holiday meals should bring joy, not plumbing headaches. With a little preparation and the right safety habits, you can keep your kitchen running smoothly all season long.
Gideon’s Plumbing is here to help with reliable repairs, expert installs, winter plumbing protection, and kitchen-specific service to keep everything working flawlessly.
For a smooth, safe, and delicious holiday season, trust the plumbing company Buffalo families rely on year-round.
Call Gideon’s Plumbing today for expert kitchen plumbing support throughout Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg.