Quick answer

A full house over the holidays means more showers, more flushes, more dishes and more laundry, often in the same few days. Most holiday plumbing trouble comes from four places: laundry hoses, the kitchen drain and dishwasher, guest toilets and the water heater. A short check of each in the weeks before guests arrive prevents most of it.

Look over washing machine hoses and replace cracked, bulging or old rubber ones.
Keep grease and heavy scraps out of the kitchen drain and disposal.
Fix running toilets and stock each bathroom with a plunger and a small trash can.
Check the water heater for leaks, rust and sediment noise before the busy week.
Know where your main water shut-off is, and turn it off if you travel.

1. Washing machine hoses

A burst supply hose can release a lot of water fast, and holiday laundry loads and travel make it worse because no one may be home to notice. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recommends inspecting washing machine hoses regularly for cracks, wear or leaks, replacing them every 3 to 5 years, and upgrading to braided stainless steel.

Pull the machine out far enough to see both hoses and their fittings.
Replace hoses that are cracked, bulging, stiff or damp at the connection.
Spread laundry across several days instead of one marathon day, especially on septic.

2. Kitchen drain, disposal and dishwasher

Holiday cooking sends grease, gravy and food scraps toward the kitchen drain at the same time the dishwasher runs load after load. Grease that goes down hot hardens in the pipe as it cools.

Pour cooled grease into a sealed container and put it in the trash.
Scrape plates into the trash or compost before loading the dishwasher.
Go easy on the disposal with peels, bones and fibrous vegetables.
Clean the dishwasher filter before the holiday so it drains well under heavy use.

Our Thanksgiving kitchen and septic prep guide covers grease handling in more detail, with Santa Cruz County Sanitation District guidance.

3. Guest toilets

More guests means more flushing, and guests do not always know what your plumbing can handle. EPA's rule for homes on septic applies to every home: only human waste and toilet paper go in the toilet. EPA also notes that a single leaky or running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water a day, which matters even more on septic.

Fix any toilet that runs or refills on its own before guests arrive. Our running toilet guide covers the usual causes.
Put a lidded trash can in every bathroom for wipes, even ones labeled flushable, and feminine products.
Keep a plunger next to each toilet so guests do not have to ask.
Show a guest where the toilet shut-off valve is. IBHS notes an overflow can be stopped by lifting the float or shutting off the valve.

4. Water heater

Back-to-back showers on a cold morning are the hardest test a water heater gets all year. IBHS recommends inspecting a tank water heater every 6 months for leaks, rust and corrosion, flushing it to remove sediment, and planning to replace it after roughly 7 to 10 years depending on water quality and use.

Look for water or rust around the base, fittings and relief valve line.
Listen for popping or rumbling while it heats, a common sign of sediment.
Stagger showers when the house is full so the tank can recover.

Our guide to repairing or replacing a water heater explains how to weigh an older unit.

5. If you travel

If you are the one leaving for the holidays, IBHS recommends knowing where your main water shut-off is and turning it off when traveling. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, a cold snap while you are away can also put exposed pipes at risk. Our frozen pipes guide covers what to set before you leave.

Homes on septic

On septic, holiday water use adds up in the tank and drainfield, and by December the rainy season is usually underway, so the soil has less room for extra water. Spread laundry and dishwasher loads over several days, keep grease out of the drains and watch for slow drains, gurgling or soggy ground over the drainfield. Our septic trouble signs post explains each warning sign.

Frequently asked questions

When should I check my plumbing before the holidays?

A week or two before guests arrive gives time to fix a running toilet, replace a worn washer hose or have a slow drain cleared. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

How often should washing machine hoses be replaced?

IBHS recommends replacing them every 3 to 5 years, inspecting them regularly for cracks, wear or leaks, and upgrading to braided stainless steel.

What should guests never flush?

Anything other than human waste and toilet paper. Wipes, including flushable ones, paper towels and feminine products belong in the trash.

Should I turn off my water when I travel for the holidays?

IBHS recommends knowing where your main shut-off is and turning it off when traveling. If you have an irrigation system or a well, check how shutting off the main affects them first.