You’ve got the menu set, the backyard cleaned up, drinks chilling, and guests on the way. Everything is going to plan until the kitchen sink backs up or the toilet clogs in the middle of your party.
It happens more often than most homeowners expect, especially during busy summer weekends in Falls Church. At B.L. James & Son, we see it every year. And trust us, no one wants to make an emergency plumbing call while their guests are still on the patio.
The good news? You don’t have to.
You might not think twice about your drains under normal conditions. But when your home suddenly has 10 or 15 extra people using the bathroom, rinsing plates, or washing hands, your plumbing starts working overtime.
More water gets used. More waste gets flushed. More food scraps end up in the wrong drains. For homes in Falls Church, VA, especially older ones, this kind of demand can push an already stressed system to its breaking point.
We recently had a call from a couple who hosted a July 4th barbecue. Their kitchen sink started backing up just after dinner. With piles of dishes and a house full of guests, they were left scrambling. One of our technicians came out that evening, ran a camera inspection, and found thick layers of grease that had been building up for months. The party was simply the tipping point.
We’ve been serving Falls Church and surrounding areas long enough to know what kinds of issues tend to happen when you're hosting a crowd. Some of the most common include:
Kitchen sinks see heavy use during summer get-togethers. Food scraps, cooking grease, and sauces often end up down the drain. While garbage disposals help, they are not designed to handle everything.
The biggest offenders we see include:
- Cooking oil or grease poured into the sink
- Pasta, rice, or starchy leftovers
- Corn husks, lemon peels, and fibrous veggies
- Coffee grounds
Even a small grease can solidify in your pipes, leading to slow drains or complete clogs.
With more guests comes more flushing and more chances for things to go wrong. Many clogs come from:
- “Flushable” wipes (they aren’t truly flushable)
- Paper towels
- Feminine hygiene products
- Too much toilet paper at once
Falls Church homes with older plumbing systems are especially vulnerable.
If your sink or tub starts to drain slowly or makes bubbling sounds when another fixture is used, that’s a warning sign. It often means your system is partially clogged and under pressure.
Don’t ignore small issues in the days leading up to your party. They’re often the start of something bigger. If you notice any of these symptoms, give us a call:
- Water is draining more slowly than usual
- Gurgling or bubbling in drains or toilets
- Foul odors coming from the sink or shower
- Backups during high water use (dishwasher, laundry, multiple faucets running)
Let B.L. James & Son take a look before it turns into a bigger problem. Get your estimate today and avoid unexpected clogs or backups during your party.
We know it’s tempting to grab a bottle of drain cleaner from the hardware store and hope for the best. However, those chemicals can corrode your pipes, especially older lines common in Falls Church.
They may temporarily clear part of the blockage, but they don’t solve the real issue. And sometimes, they make things worse, especially if the clog is deeper in the system or caused by something like tree roots or compacted grease.
When you call B.L. James & Son, we do it right the first time. We utilize safe, professional-grade equipment like video camera inspections and high-powered clogged drain cleaning tools. You’ll get answers, not guesswork.
Planning to host a party at home? Don’t let plumbing issues catch you off guard before the guests arrive. At B.L. James & Son, we offer expert clogged drain cleaning, camera inspections, and full-service plumbing for homes in Falls Church and throughout Northern Virginia. Whether you need routine maintenance or a fast fix, we’re here to help. Request your estimate today and let our experienced team handle your plumbing with care.
The B.L. James & Son team likes to move quick and reply to customer inquiries the same business day. Once we troubleshoot the issue, estimates are provided the same day or by the end of the next day. Our work begins the moment you call, and since we’re open 24 hours a day there’s no reason to wait. Call B.L. James & Son anytime, we’ll be there to help.
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B.L. James & Son Is a veteran-owned mechanical contractor providing plumbing, heating and cooling services to residents and business in Arlington, Virginia and the surrounding community.
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