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Why Drains are Slower After the Holidays

I spent the entire day yesterday trying to put the house back together from the holidays. All of the kids were home, plus we had relatives visiting from out of town, which made for a full house. So, after the whirling dervish of gifts, guests, food, and parties, the house felt more than a little beat up! But beyond all of the post-holiday wear and tear to floors, walls, carpets, and furniture, the house has been under a lot of internal stress as well.

Probably many of you know what I mean: after the holidays, toilets, sinks, and showers might be draining slower, or the main drain might be gurgling. If you had guests for the holidays and are wondering why some of your drains are slow or have started backing up, according to Jesse Wheeler, drains manager at Any Hour Services, this is a common by-product of holiday houseguests.
Jesse can tell you that, in his 10+ years of experience, whether it’s the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, holidays are the times of the year when homeowners experience the most trouble with their drains. So I asked him why that is and what we can do to prevent drain issues from occurring.

First, he says that the reason this happens is because new objects are being introduced to your plumbing system and your system is experiencing higher volume usage than usual. Think of it this way: why did Aunt Edna’s fruitcake give you indigestion? It’s because you only have it once a year and it shocked your system. And why do you feel bloated and backed up after eating four helpings of Christmas dinner? It’s because you ate four times as much as you usually do and your digestive system wasn’t equipped to handle the onslaught. Your plumbing and sewer system actually work exactly the same way.

Second, Jesse explains the issue simply: the things we use most often wear out the fastest. This is as true with your favorite slippers you wear around the house every day as it is with your home’s plumbing system: the toilets, sinks, and other drains that you use most often will wear out the fastest. Therefore, your most commonly-used lines are the ones that most commonly back up. Simply, holidays are the times of the year when we experience the most trouble with our drains because usage increases and parts wear out faster.

Obviously preparing for this ahead of time is ideal and don’t worry, we’ll remind you in November so you can be ready for next holiday, BUT what can you do right now -- great question. Here are some of the suggestions Jesse had if you find yourself with slow drains this time of year.

Let me start with what we recommend you don’t do. Chemical drain cleaners are not the best choice when trying to clear a blocked or slow drain. There are better things to try. Most plumbers will tell you not to use these products.
BLOCKED DRAINS:
Now, If a toilet or sink is completely blocked you can try a plunger or hand auger. For more stubborn clogs you may need to enlist the help of someone that has a mechanical auger. Many people call a company that specializes in clearing blocked drains.
SLOW DRAINS:
A lot of times this can be grease, grime, soap scum, hair, toothpaste, and anything else that can cling to the sidewalls of your drains and slow the flow of water. You can try running hot soapy water down the drain to try and loosen and remove some of the build-ups.

A chemical reaction you can try is vinegar and baking soda. It is a mild chemical reaction that can sometimes loosen the blockage and restore flow. If you notice a small improvement after trying this, you may want to do it a couple more times to see if this gets the water flowing the way you want.

You can try an organic drain treatment like bio-clean or bio-one, treat the drains overnight and see if that improves the drains. These treatments are great for slow drains because of the are made of safe, natural bacteria that feed on the gunk in your pipes that cause them to drain slow.

If you are feeling adventurous you can disassemble the drain under the sink, clean with a bottle cleaner and then reassemble. This is going to give you the fastest, most thorough cleaning of the pipes under your sink but keep this in mind if you find a lot of build-up there, chances are the pipes behind the wall have build-up in them as well and you won’t be able to reach them to clean them the same way.

If you like the thoroughness of cleaning your drains, there is a technology that can clean the pipes behind the walls and restore them to like-new condition. This process is called hydro jetting. High-pressure jets of water scour the insides of your drains and removes all the build-up. Most homeowners don’t have one of these machines in the garage so you’ll probably have to contact a company that offers drain services like this. 
Slow and blocked drains can be a pain and I hope you are not experiencing any of these frustrations. If you are and you need a little professional help clearing a drain or jetting a line, Any Hour Services is here to help.
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Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.

Any Hour Services

1374 West 130 South, Orem, UT 84058

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Before we price your drains or excavation project, our expert technician will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

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Our phone staff are not expert technicians, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained technician needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

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Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a trained technician can assess the job properly.

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Pricing FAQ

A:

Our pricing is fair and transparent. We use a fixed-price guide that reflects the time, materials, and real costs of running a dependable home services business. No hourly rates. No inflated prices based on where you live. We focus on what it takes to get the job done—not on how much we can charge.

Before we price your plumbing job, our licensed plumber will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

Call Now

A:

We price the job—not the clock. Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

Call Now

A:

We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

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Water heater replacements vary. Often, older units require updates to meet safety standards. Common items missing from many water heaters are flexible gas lines, expansion tanks, earthquake straps, gas sediment trap, upgrade exhaust venting, etc.

For an accurate quote, one of our licensed plumbers will inspect your existing system and provide a FREE estimate.

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Our phone staff are not licensed plumbers, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained plumber needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

Call Now

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Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a licensed plumber can assess the job properly.

Call Now

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We have a small dispatch fee to send our plumber to your home. They’ll arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts, ready to complete most jobs the same day. After a thorough evaluation, your plumber will explain the issue, walk you through the recommended fix, and show you your options and final price. No hourly rates. No surprises. Just a clear, upfront price before any work begins.

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Yes! We offer FREE in-home estimates for major projects like water heater installations, water softeners, and repiping—without any dispatch fee. Our licensed plumber will assess the job, explain your options, and provide a clear, fixed price. No surprises or hourly rates—just honest, reliable service. Schedule your FREE estimate today!

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No, our plumbers don’t quote a price until they have seen your plumbing project. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time, if you want to add more tasks to your plumbing project, your plumber will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

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You can pay for your plumbing service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your plumber can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the work you want completed.

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