Food preparations and decorations are likely near the top of your to-do list as you ready your home for the holidays. Your plumbing system is probably not even on the list, but perhaps it should be. The holidays kick your home's plumbing into high gear with increased cooking, cleaning and hosting. Save yourself potential embarrassing headaches during holiday get-togethers by following these five tips:

Care for your garbage disposal

Thanksgiving feasts are notorious for causing garbage disposal disasters. In-laws volunteer to do the dishes and then stuff foods in the disposal it can't handle. Avoid disposal issues by using the trashcan as much as possible when prepping your holiday feast, especially grease, fibrous foods, rice, bones and fat. Additionally, run the disposal occasionally as you work rather than waiting for it to be too full before turning it on.

Allow time between showers

We all know that the hot water tends to run out after too many showers in a short amount of time. However, waiting at least 10 minutes between showers has another purpose. It allows your drains to clear out so that your shower is less likely to clog.

Turn up the water heater

With extra guests, your water heater will need to work double-time to keep up with the demand. Turn the heater up a few degrees so you get hot water faster. The added benefit: getting hot water faster will decrease shower and dishwashing time.

Flush only toilet paper

The easiest way to start a clog is by flushing materials you shouldn't. Remind your guests, especially if you have children coming over, that only toilet paper should be flushed. You can do this without a big announcement by having a simple sign in your bathroom. Put the reminder sign above a trashcan near the toilet.

Fix existing plumbing issues before guests arrive

If you notice a leaking pipe, a slow drain or garbage disposal problems, hire a plumber to fix everything well before your guests begin to arrive. Even if you don't notice existing problems, you may want to schedule an inspection beforehand to make sure your home is ready for your holiday guests.

You can enjoy the holidays with confidence by following these simple tips. If you want to schedule a pre-holiday plumbing inspection or have immediate plumbing needs you'd like to correct, call David Gray Plumbing at (904) 467-0784