A plumbing disaster can ruin your holiday season; here's how to avoid one

A plumbing disaster could ruin your holidays, especially if you have family or friends crowding your house.

The best way to avoid one is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

"Check or have your toilet checked out prior to the busy holiday season before you have any family or friends over," says plumber Russell Hertaus. "Make sure that it's operating properly and that in its self will help you avoid a disaster."

Any easy way to see if your toilet is leaking is to add a little food coloring to your toilet tank and leave it overnight.

"In the morning when you wake up without anyone using the toilet over night see if that color has appeared in the bowl of the toilet if that is the case that means that your flapper is leaking," says Hertaus.

And make sure you clean the bowl afterwards so it doesn't stain.

If you run into a clogged toilet, don't panic. Instead, grab a plunger. Turn off the water valve and make sure there is some water in the bowl. If there isn't enough, add some until it comes about halfway up the rubber cap of the plunger.

The best way to avoid a clogged toilet is to avoid flushing items that are likely to cause a blockage. The most common offenders are excess toilet paper, baby wipes and toys.

When you do need a plumber , it's usually in an emergency, which could lead to more headaches if you haven't checked the plumber out before hiring.

"The key here is to build a relationship with a plumber ahead of time so that you can check them out and feel like you have a good relationship and you can trust their advice, says Angie Hicks of Angie's List . "That way you are not picking in an emergency situation."

You'll want to choose a plumber who is reliable and has a great reputation. There's no better place to get a recommendation than from a friend or relative.