Holiday Plumbing Maintenance Your Home Needs

The holiday season is a time for laughter, celebration, and making memories with family and friends—but nothing ruins the festive spirit faster than a plumbing disaster. Burst pipes, dripping faucets, or a clogged kitchen sink can quickly turn your joyful gathering into a stressful nightmare. With the added strain of guests, extra cooking, and colder weather, your plumbing system faces its most significant challenges of the year. 

Plumbing maintenance is crucial to avoid these headaches, and simple tasks like inspecting pipes or scheduling a professional check-up with Steward’s Plumbing in Albuquerque, NM, can save you time, money, and stress this season.

Importance of Winter Plumbing Maintenance

Neglecting your plumbing system during winter can lead to major headaches. In cold weather, pipes are more susceptible to freezing, which can cause them to burst—leading to costly repairs and potential water damage. Leaking pipes can also worsen with time, wasting water and creating an environment for mold and mildew to grow, which can cause health issues. 

Albuquerque’s winter temperatures can fluctuate, putting extra strain on your plumbing. Failing to address these risks can result in significant damage, especially when hosting guests over the holidays. A professional plumbing inspection can catch hidden issues with tools like pipe inspection cameras and thermal detectors to ensure your home is safe and ready for the winter season.

Holiday Plumbing Tips for Albuquerque Homeowners

You don’t need to be a plumbing expert to keep your home’s plumbing in good shape this holiday season. You can avoid plumbing issues that might ruin your festivities with vigilance and simple maintenance tasks. Regular upkeep is key to preventing mishaps, and small efforts now can save you a lot of stress later on.

Wrap and Insulate External Pipes

Uninsulated pipes are highly vulnerable to freezing and bursting in cold weather, especially in Albuquerque’s fluctuating winter temperatures. Knowing how to insulate pipes for winter is crucial to protecting your plumbing. Use foam pipe insulation or heat tape to cover exposed pipes, particularly in unheated areas like basements or crawl spaces. 

Ensure the insulation is secured tightly and check for gaps where cold air can sneak in. If you’re unsure how to insulate hard-to-reach pipes properly or need expert help, call Steward’s Plumbing for water line repair services.

Disconnect Hoses and Cover External Spigots

Leaving hoses attached to outdoor spigots can lead to frozen water inside the hose, damaging both the hose and the plumbing. To prevent this, always disconnect hoses, drain them, and store them indoors for the winter. Don’t forget to cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers to protect them from freezing temperatures. This quick step can save you from costly repairs later on.

Inspect for Leaks around Faucets, Showers, and Tubs

Even a small water leak can waste gallons of water every day, and with the increased usage of faucets, showers, and tubs over the holidays, these issues can quickly escalate. Check your faucets, showerheads, and tubs for signs of drips, water pooling, or discoloration around the fixtures. If you notice anything unusual, don’t wait!

Steward’s Plumbing uses advanced leak detection tools to find and fix issues quickly. Schedule a plumbing leak repair today and cross one more thing off your holiday to-do list.

Pipe Inspection Camera for Drain Build-up

The holidays mean more cooking and entertaining, often leading to extra food scraps and grease going down your drains. This is prime time for clogs to develop. While a drain snake or plunger can handle minor blockages, they don’t always completely clear blockages and chemical drain cleaners can corrode your pipes. 

With a camera inspection, Steward’s Plumbing pinpoints blockages deep in your plumbing system. We then clear blockages with specialized equipment that is safe for your home’s plumbing system. We ensure long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes. Schedule a drain cleaning service here to keep your drains flowing smoothly.

Keep Your Home Warm to Prevent Freeze Pipes

Cold temperatures can quickly turn your home’s plumbing system into a nightmare. Water in unheated areas can freeze when the temperature drops, causing pipes to expand and potentially burst. To keep your home safe, ensure your thermostat stays consistent, even when you’re not around. 

Seal any drafts around windows and doors, and use space heaters in colder areas like basements and attics. If you’re unsure about your home’s heating system, Steward’s Plumbing offers professional heater maintenance services to ensure everything runs smoothly. 

Open Cabinet Doors and Have a Dripping Faucet Winter

When winter temperatures dip, keeping water flowing is essential. Let faucets drip during freezing nights to keep water moving through the pipes. In colder areas, it’s also a good idea to open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. These simple tricks can help prevent costly damage to your plumbing system.

Backflow Service and Testing for Sewer Lines

Sewer backups are a nightmare. To prevent them, look for signs like slow drains, gurgling noises, or sewage backing up into your home. Schedule a sewer inspection at least once every two years to ensure your backflow device works properly. 

If you notice any signs of a backup, don’t wait! Steward’s Plumbing can help with quick backflow testing and repairs. Contact us for backflow service and testing.

Flush Water Heaters to Remove Sediment

Sediment build-up in your water heater can reduce efficiency and lead to cold showers. Flushing the tank removes this sediment and keeps your water heater running efficiently. It’s also a good time to check the anode rod for any signs of corrosion.

If you’re unfamiliar with the process, professionals can help! Steward’s Plumbing is Albuquerque’s go-to water heater maintenance and repair expert.

Inspect Washing Machine Hoses and Dishwasher Drains

With extra laundry and dishwashing during the holidays, checking the hoses and drains that handle these heavy loads is crucial. Look for cracks, bulges, or loose connections in your washing machine hoses, and make sure the dishwasher drain is clear. 

Regular cleaning helps prevent clogs and leaks. If you need assistance, Steward’s Plumbing offers expert inspection and repairs of plumbing fixtures.

Choose Licensed Plumbers for Holiday Plumbing Maintenance

Steward’s Plumbing provides comprehensive services, including pipe insulation, leak detection, drain cleaning, and water heater maintenance. We offer tailored maintenance schedules that fit your needs and budget, ensuring you get the most value while keeping your plumbing running smoothly. Our customers trust us for our reliability and expertise—just check out the glowing reviews from happy homeowners. Read our customer testimonials.

When you choose us, you choose a team that prioritizes your home’s safety, comfort, and peace of mind. We’re here to ensure stress-free holidays with affordable and effective residential plumbing solutions. Schedule a plumbing maintenance appointment.

Schedule a plumbing inspection or repair by calling Steward’s Plumbing Inc. at (505) 906-6777 today.