Despite the lack of snow, Los Angeles shows its own signs of the holidays. Whether it’s the insane crowds at Third Street Promenade or the chilly temperatures along the Pacific Ocean, residents can still share in the season with the rest of the country, especially if they’re hosting relatives and friends.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas to Hanukkah and more, this time of year is often filled with love, joy… and stress. Anyone whose hosted a big dinner or party knows that the fun is tempered with a dose of anxiety. Whether a guest spills wine on the furniture or, say, breaks a picture frame, any number of problems can go wrong.

With all of those extra people, can your plumbing take it? Depending on the size of your get-togethers, you’ll multiply your typical water usage, which could be a serious problem in an older or under-serviced home.

Check out these simple tips for ensuring stress-free holiday celebrations.

Install low-flow fixtures

Over the past few years, low-flow fixtures have become an easy way to save water around the house, which is particularly useful in a time of drought. In addition to saving the state of California, they also put less pressure on our home’s pipes. Low-flow toilets, for example, can save up to 5 gallons of water per flush!

Whether you’re throwing a Santa Monica shindig or Hollywood Hanukkah party, having a working toilet is a must. While you can’t necessarily prevent clogs from occurring, you can take steps to preventing a flood due to over-use. Low-flow fixtures use minimal water and spare your pipes from unnecessary burden.

Water heater inspection

If guests are staying overnight or for an extended period of time, you’ll definitely need to rely on hot water (not providing showers to your guests will most definitely put you on Santa’s Naughty List). As the holidays approach, it’s a good time to assess the state of your water heater. How old is it? When was it last serviced?

Experts recommend that traditional hot water heaters be flushed once a year, which should be left to a pro. Just call the best plumber Los Angeles has to offer, and one of Ritz’s trained technicians will come out to service your heater, and ensure that it lasts through the holidays and beyond.

Only do full loads of laundry

Water consumption inevitably goes up during the holidays. From Beverly Hills to Downtown LA, residents who host elaborate Thanksgiving feasts and New Year’s Eve parties know that they can’t survive without water on demand. In addition to cooking, using the bathroom, and cleaning dishes, laundry may become a more frequent activity if you’re hosting family or guests over several days.

Even if you just need to wash the cloth napkins and placemats that you used for a dinner, the laundry adds up. But don’t do it small batches. You’ll waste water and put pressure on your pipes. Instead, wait until you have a full load, even if it means letting the dirty clothes and materials pile up a little higher than usual.