3 Halloween Plumbing Horrors You Can Easily Avoid

Halloween is almost here! It’s that festive time of year when we celebrate all things spooky and creepy--but the last thing you want to deal with is a frightening plumbing problem. We’ve put together a list of the most common plumbing problems around Halloween time, and how to avoid them.

Pumpkin scraps clogging the drain

Carving jack-o-lanterns is a seasonal tradition. Everyone from kids to adults enjoys carving their best spooky face in a pumpkin and putting it on display for the neighborhood to see! It’s fun for the whole family--unless you throw the pumpkin scraps down the drain. The fibrous pumpkin insides and hard seeds can build up inside your drains and can cause buildups and blockages. Also, throwing pumpkin insides down the garbage disposal is an unwise choice--as this can attach to the blades and cause the motor to stall and fail. To avoid these problems, consider throwing away the pumpkin insides, or even better, feed them to the birds!

Consider using recyclable or compostable makeup remover wipes

Most costume makeup is grease-based and doesn’t remove as easily as day-to-day makeup does. Grease-based makeup is thicker and harder to break down than water-based makeup, and if it goes down your drains, it will slow them down dramatically. Once you and your kids get home from trick-or-treating or the neighbor’s party, consider using durable, eco-friendly wipes to remove your costume makeup. This will keep the drains free and clear, and help avoid an unexpected blockage later on.

Check your creaking pipes (Don’t worry, those sounds aren’t ghosts!)

Around Halloween time, we usually see a drop in temperatures, from the warm summer evenings to bone-chilling nights. Often times during seasonal changes, homeowners tend to notice creaking sounds coming from their walls and old pipes. With the change in temperatures, old pipes tend to slightly expand and contract, causing sounds that sound like a creature from another dimension. If you’re concerned that your home’s plumbing might have this problem, contact the team at Flatley’s right away! Avoiding plumbing repairs and replacement might cause much bigger problems and leaks later on.

If you’re experiencing plumbing problems caused by Halloween traditions or seasonal changes, these tips might help save you from running into bigger issues later in the year. If you need expert help, we’re here to take care of all of your home’s plumbing needs!

Call Flatley's Plumbing Express today!