Turkey grease. Potato peels. Guest showers running non-stop. The holiday season pushes your plumbing to its limits, and by January, your drains are begging for relief. In fact, January is the #1 month for clogged drain calls across the Lower Mainland — and it's no coincidence.

After weeks of heavy cooking, extra guests, and holiday gatherings, grease, food particles, and hair build up inside your pipes. What starts as a slow drain can quickly escalate into a full backup — and nobody wants to ring in the new year with sewage problems.

3 Steps to Recover Your Drains

• Hot Water Flush: Once a week, boil a full kettle and slowly pour it down your kitchen sink. This helps dissolve and move grease that has solidified along the pipe walls. For best results, follow up with a squirt of dish soap before the hot water — the soap acts as a surfactant that breaks grease into smaller particles. Avoid using boiling water on PVC pipes; hot tap water works just as well.
• Check and Clean Your Traps: Remove the drain strainer from your bathroom sinks, shower, and bathtub. You'll often find a surprising amount of hair, soap scum, and debris caught just below the surface. A quick clean every two weeks keeps water flowing freely and prevents the kind of deep clogs that require professional equipment to clear.
• Skip the Chemical Drain Cleaners: Products like Drano and Liquid-Plumr can actually damage your pipes over time. The harsh chemicals generate heat and can corrode older metal pipes or weaken PVC joints. Instead, use a drain snake (available at any hardware store for under $20) or a simple baking soda and vinegar treatment. If the clog persists, that's when you call a professional.

When to Call a Professional

Some drain problems go beyond DIY fixes. If you notice any of these warning signs, it's time to bring in a licensed plumber:

• Multiple drains backing up at once — this usually indicates a main sewer line issue
• Gurgling sounds from your toilet or sink when you run water elsewhere
• Foul odours coming from your drains, even after cleaning
• Water backing up into your bathtub when you flush the toilet
• Recurring clogs that return within days of clearing

These symptoms often point to a deeper issue — tree root intrusion, a collapsed pipe section, or a blockage in your main sewer line that requires professional camera inspection and hydro-jetting to resolve properly.

Preventive Maintenance Tips for 2026

The best way to avoid drain emergencies is to prevent them. Here are habits that keep your drains healthy year-round:

• Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain — collect it in a container and dispose of it in the garbage
• Use mesh strainers on all drains to catch hair and food particles
• Run cold water while using your garbage disposal (if you have one) to solidify grease so it gets chopped up rather than coating your pipes
• Schedule a professional drain inspection every 1-2 years, especially if your home is older than 20 years

At DOSANJH Plumbing & Heating, we've been keeping Lower Mainland drains clear for over 20 years. Our team uses professional-grade equipment including motorized drain snakes and hydro-jetting systems to tackle even the toughest clogs — without damaging your pipes.