Holiday Plumbing Tips for Buffalo and Western New York Homes
Gideon’s Plumbing Helps You Stay Prepared, Stress-Free, and Leak-Free During the Holidays
The holiday season in Buffalo brings family gatherings, festive cooking, and, unfortunately, extra strain on your home’s plumbing system. With freezing temperatures outside and increased water usage inside, it’s one of the most common times of year for plumbing problems to pop up unexpectedly.
At Gideon’s Plumbing, we’ve helped homeowners across Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg prepare their plumbing for the holidays and avoid costly repairs. A few simple steps now can save you from backed-up drains, cold showers, or emergency leaks in the middle of your celebrations.
Here are essential holiday plumbing tips to keep your home safe, comfortable, and ready for guests.
1. Prevent Holiday Drain Clogs
Extra cooking and more people in your home mean your kitchen and bathroom drains are working overtime.
To prevent clogs:
• Never pour grease, fats, or oils down the drain. It solidifies and causes blockages
• Keep food scraps, bones, pasta, and peels out of the garbage disposal
• Run cold water before and after using your disposal
• Use strainers in bathroom sinks and showers to catch hair and soap buildup
If your drains start slowing down, call Gideon’s Plumbing for excellent service and fast plumbing repairs. Acting quickly helps prevent a full backup.
2. Protect Your Pipes from Freezing
Holiday visitors often mean exterior doors opening frequently, garages being used more often, and cold air sneaking into vulnerable areas. This is prime time for frozen pipes.
To avoid a holiday plumbing emergency:
• Keep heat consistent throughout your home, even at night
• Let faucets trickle during extreme cold snaps
• Open cabinets under sinks to allow warm airflow
• Insulate pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics
If you suspect a frozen pipe, don’t wait. Gideon’s Plumbing can thaw pipes safely, prevent them from bursting, and provide reliable repairs.
3. Prepare Your Water Heater for Guests
With more showers, laundry, and dishwashing, your water heater works harder during the holidays.
To keep hot water flowing:
• Flush your water heater once a year to remove sediment
• Set the temperature to 120°F for comfort and safety
• Avoid back-to-back showers. Give your tank time to recover
• Consider a tankless water heater if you host large gatherings frequently
If your water heater is older or showing signs of trouble, Gideon’s Plumbing can perform a pre-holiday inspection or recommend a professional new install.
4. Test Your Sump Pump Before Winter Storms
Buffalo snowstorms and rapid thaws can overwhelm sump pumps.
Make sure yours is ready by:
• Checking the battery backup
• Removing debris from the pit
• Pouring water into the sump to ensure it activates
If your sump pump hesitates, runs loudly, or fails entirely, Gideon’s Plumbing offers reliable inspections and replacement options to keep your basement dry.
5. Watch What Goes in the Toilet
With kids, guests, and busy schedules, a surprising amount of non-flushable items end up in toilets around the holidays.
Remind guests (especially little ones) not to flush:
• Wipes (even “flushable” ones)
• Paper towels
• Cotton balls or pads
• Wrapping debris
• Toys Yes, it happens more than you’d think!
A backed-up toilet during Christmas dinner isn’t festive, but we’re here if it happens.
6. Schedule a Pre-Holiday Plumbing Inspection
If you’re hosting family or expecting long-term guests, a quick plumbing checkup can prevent most holiday emergencies.
A Gideon’s Plumbing holiday inspection includes:
• Checking for leaks
• Inspecting drains and water pressure
• Ensuring the water heater is operating properly
• Evaluating pipe insulation for winter weather
• Testing sump pumps
• Confirming outdoor faucets are shut down for the season
We serve Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg with excellent service and expert plumbing repairs to keep your home running smoothly.
Celebrate the Season Without Plumbing Stress
Holiday plumbing issues never happen at a convenient time, but the team at Gideon’s Plumbing is ready to help whenever you need us.
Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or enjoying a quiet Christmas at home, we ensure your plumbing is prepared for cold weather, heavy usage, and holiday surprises.
Serving Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park, and Hamburg, our experienced technicians offer reliable repairs, new installs, winterization, and excellent service all season long.
For a worry-free holiday season, call Gideon’s Plumbing, your trusted plumbing company in Western New York.