Don't let this happen to you.

A clogged drain can be a major pain when you are getting ready for the holidays and entertaining guests. Have a plunger handy next to every toilet in the house in the event of unexpected clogs. Another little tool, called a snake, can be your best friend when the drain clogs and can be had for about $15 at a local hardware store. About 25-ft. of snake is all you need for most plumbing jobs.

Tubs and bathroom sinks typically clog because hair and soap builds up in the drains. In both cases, remove the stopper in the sink and tub, and use the snake to loosen grime and hair.

A clogged kitchen sink is typically caused by a jammed garbage disposal. Most disposals come with an Allen wrench, the funny looking metal pipe that looks a bit like the letter Z. Under the sink at the bottom of the disposal, there is a small opening for the Allen wrench. Place one end of the wrench inside the opening and turn the wrench clockwise and counter clockwise until the wrench spins freely. If the disposal is clear and the sink is still clogged, try removing the trap in the sink drain and use the snake to loosen any clog.

The snake can be used to unplug clogs in laundry tubs as well. In fact, a snake can take care of most clogs, so if it doesn’t work, you really need to call a plumber. The same can be said for floor drains. You could rent a sewer machine, however, if the end of the snake catches on something in your pipes, it will stop turning and can be seriously dangerous to remove yourself.

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First, a little history. In 1994, the U.S. government set off a firestorm when it mandated homeowners and businesses to switch their water guzzling toilets to ones that were more energy-efficient. Toilets that had been using 3.5 gallons of water every time you flushed would now have to use less than half that amount. Back then the manufacturing sector was caught a little off-guard and had to scramble to create water-efficient toilets that used only 1.6 gallons per flush or gpf.

Today, technology is ahead of the game. There are a host of products, including toilets, showerheads, urinals and even water irrigation systems that save water and protect the environment. What you decide to buy is voluntary. There are no new mandates that say you have to buy green, but if you decide to go this route, check out the EPA’s WaterSense website. You’ll find a substantial list of companies that have voluntarily partnered with the EPA to make water-efficient products – some falling well below the EPA’s current guidelines.

Justin Castleman, owner of Castleman & Sons Plumbing, has invested a lot of time and energy learning about green initiatives in the plumbing industry. He says some of the new toilets are so amazing; he makes visits to schools and communities to show what they can do using as little as 0.8 gallons of water per flush. Recently, Castleman took one of these new, water-efficient toilets to “Science Night” at Country Dale Elementary in Franklin. To the delight of the students, he flushed three potatoes, a cell phone and a 2.5-in. rubber ball down the toilet all at once. He does emphasize to kids, “do not do this at home,” but what better way to show how well these toilets work using very little water?

Castleman says there are three types of water-efficient toilets to consider:

1. Syphon Jet Toilets. This is the toilet most of us are used to. It uses about 1.28 gal. of water every time you flush, so it’s well below the industry standard of 1.6 gpf. Syphon Jet toilets are the least expensive.

2. Washdown Toilets. These toilets have the dual flush feature that lets you determine if and when you need a half flush (0.8 gpf) or the power of a full flush (1.6 gpf).

3. Pressure-assisted Toilets. These toilets perform and look like traditional toilets, but use a lot less water (1.0 to 1.1 gpg) and strong pressure every time you flush. The downside is these toilets are a bit noisy.

Just how much money can you save with a water-efficient toilet? It’s estimated that one-third of our water usage in the home comes from flushing toilets. If you can cut the amount of water you use by half every time you use the toilet, the savings can really add up.

Deciding which toilet is right for you comes down to your own needs and preferences, and your current plumbing. If you have a newer home this shouldn’t be an issue. If you have an older home, you should probably talk to a professional plumber who can look at your plumbing and help you decide what to do.