Halloween is the spookiest time of year! Despite all the mischief and mayhem, there’s a lot to look forward to and the last thing you want to think about is your plumbing. However, because Halloween is full of fun activities, it’s also full of opportunities to clog your drain. If your pipes begin to moan and groan this October, don’t assume your house is haunted. More likely, you have a drain in need of assistance! Read more for handy tips to avoid slow drainage and clogged plumbing this Halloween Season!
Pumpkin Guts Lead to Clogged Drains and are a Plumbing Nightmare
It’s pumpkin carving season! Whether you prefer your Jack-o-lanterns spooky, artistic or just plain goofy, everyone can agree that there’s something festive about plopping a candle in a pumpkin and watching the flame light up Jack’s toothy grin. Pumpkin innards are great for a lot of things. They’re great for roasted pumpkin seeds. They’re great for pie. But there’s one thing pumpkin innards do not go well with: Your Plumbing. Pumpkin waste is some of the stickiest goop on earth, and it loves to clog your pipes.
How to Get Rid of Pumpkin Seeds
We’ve seen a lot of creative methods to get rid of excess pumpkin gook. People try garbage disposals, drains and even toilets!
In all of these cases, the seeds adhere to the drain and cause a nasty clog that can lead to damaged pipes and water back-ups. To avoid expensive extraction or repairs, check out the following handy pumpkin disposal tips.
Save the Seeds!
Pumpkin seeds are both useful and edible.
To Replant: Remove and clean the seeds from the pumpkin. Set them on a paper towel and leave them out to dry for at least one week. Pro Tip: The best time to plant a pumpkin is between late Spring and early Summer!
To Eat: Pumpkin seeds are an easy, festive and inexpensive snack! Simply rinse off your seeds, toss them in a bowl with a few tablespoons of butter and salt and bake for 45 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit!
Compost Your Seeds
Composting seeds is an easy way to fortify your compost pile or start a new one.
Throw the Seeds Away
To keep your pumpkin disposal ecologically friendly, simply scoop your seeds onto an old newspaper, roll them up and toss them in the garbage!
Clogged Drains and the Candy Catastrophe
We know after a long night of Trick-or-Treating, all you parents want to do is sit down, rest your feet and pretend not to see the flurry of candy wrappers your kids are happily discarding.
If your child is considering sneaking a few extra chocolate bars to bed, he or she might try to find a stealthy place to trash the wrapper. Before the mischief begins, let your kids know that discarded candy and plastic wrappers go in the trash and not in the toilet or sink.
The Wrapper Collection Bowl: If your child has a history of stuffing candy wrappers where they don’t belong, you can decorate a bowl and instruct your children to put their discarded candy wrappers inside! If they successfully put all of their wrappers inside the collection bowl, they get a prize!
Costume and Makeup Mayhem
When removing your prosthetic nose or gooey gashes, you may be tempted to rinse your face off in the sink or shower. This can cause poor drainage! Many varieties of department store Halloween makeups are oil based, meaning they will likely adhere to your pipes and lead to a clogged shower drain.
Remember to always use a disposable wipe and throw it in the trash. Even if the wipe instructions say they are flushable, the best bet is not to take a risk and keep them in the garbage.
Call Al Bourgeois Plumbing Today!
Do you want to make sure your drains are in tip top shape for the Halloween season? You’re in luck! Al Bourgeois’ plumbing experts can help you get ready by giving your general plumbing a thorough maintenance check.
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