Holiday Plumbing Preparedness

Shawn Folks • November 19, 2018

The holidays are here! This means guests and family will be arriving soon and the time to prep your home is now! While prepping, don’t forget about the little things that could turn into big things if not maintained properly. When you have increased guests in your home due to the holidays, there is an increased use of your plumbing system. Prepare for common issues now so you won’t have to deal with them later!


HOT WATER

If you have overnight guests this holiday season, cleaning and bathing is a big deal. Prevent running out of hot water by turning up your tank water heater to maximize its capability and help the hot water last longer.


CLOGGED GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND DRAINS

This is a messy and inconvenient problem to have during the holidays. Thanksgiving involves lots of cooking and cleaning for most American families. Your holiday can quickly become a catastrophe if this process is interrupted.


Protect your garbage disposal and prevent it from jamming up by watching what kind of foods you put in it. For instance, excessive potato skins and fibrous veggies such as celery tangle the disposal system and prevent it from doing its’ job.

Avoid putting any fats, oils and grease down your drains. These harden as they cool, building up on the walls of your pipes causing stubborn clogs. Instead, set them aside and let them cool before disposing them in the garbage.


TOILET CLOGS

Be sure you have a wastebasket available for guests to throw away trash. You’d be surprised by the items guests put down the toilet! Anything from food to paper plates can easily clog up a toilet drain.


LEAKS

Minor drips or leaks are easy to ignore, but they can grow quickly and turn into a huge mess. Even the smallest leaks can easily waste gallons of water throughout the year if not addressed. Leaks may also be the cause of pipe corrosion, which should be fixed to avoid a pipe rupture later on.

CONTACT US
By Shawn Folks July 29, 2026
Learn how using one team for mitigation and reconstruction streamlines disaster recovery, improves communication, and reduces downtime.
By Christina Mullins July 22, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: Zack Klein Director of Marketing and Business Development 225-753-8682 Zack@247GRS.com Guarantee Restoration Services Launches National Sales Team to Expand Strategic Partnerships Across the Country BATON ROUGE, La. – June 16, 2026 – Guarantee Restoration Services (GRS), a leading full-service restoration contractor serving the Gulf Coast since 1974, is proud to announce the implementation of its new National Sales Team. This strategic initiative marks an exciting step forward in the company’s continued growth and commitment to serving clients and partners on a broader scale. The newly established team will be led by Barrett Dick, Director of National Sales, alongside Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing. Together, they have played a pivotal role in growing GRS relationships across multiple industries throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond for over a decade. The team also includes newly hired account executives, David Stern and Chad Catalano. “Over the years, we have seen our partnerships and opportunities continue to grow beyond our traditional footprint,” said Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing at Guarantee Restoration Services. “Creating a dedicated National Sales Team allows us to strengthen those relationships, support our partners on a larger scale, and continue expanding the reach of the GRS brand, while staying true to the service and responsiveness we are known for.” Dick, who will celebrate 10 years with GRS next month, brings extensive industry knowledge and leadership experience to the role. He holds multiple Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) credentials, including Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), and Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician (FSRT). After graduating from Louisiana State University, Barrett began his professional career with Marucci Sports before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in July 2016. Just weeks into his time with the company, the historic Great Flood of 2016 impacted Southeastern Louisiana, providing him with firsthand experience managing large-scale losses and coordinating restoration efforts for major school districts and commercial clients. Since then, he has helped cultivate business development efforts throughout Louisiana and nationally, working closely with partners in hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. “Our focus has always been relationship-driven,” said Dick. “We want our clients and partners to know they have a team they can rely on before, during, and after a disaster. This National Sales Team is another way we are investing in those relationships and positioning Guarantee to better serve organizations wherever they need us.” As part of the expansion, GRS hired David Stern as a National Sales Account Executive. Stern brings more than a decade of high-level sales and relationship management experience from the professional sports industry. Prior to joining our team, he served with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans organization, where he consistently ranked among the organization’s top sales representatives and generated more than $38 million in multiyear contracts throughout his career. “David’s experience of building relationships, managing high-profile partnerships, and delivering exceptional client service makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” added Klein. “His background and skillset align perfectly with the direction we are heading as a company.” The National Sales Team also includes Chad Catalano, who joined Guarantee Restoration Services in January 2026. Catalano brings nearly two decades of restoration industry experience, with a strong background in sales leadership, project coordination, and relationship development throughout the Southeast and Gulf South regions. Prior to joining GRS, Catalano served as National Sales Manager for ServiceMaster DSI and spent more than 16 years with US Restoration as a Sales and Project Coordinator. Throughout his career, he has built long-standing partnerships while helping clients navigate complex restoration and recovery projects. In addition to his restoration industry experience, Catalano also spent several years as a successful high school baseball coach in the New Orleans area, earning multiple district championships and Coach of the Year honors. His leadership, communication skills, and client-focused approach make him a valuable addition to the growing national team. Guarantee Restoration Services continues to serve clients across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with six locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. With the implementation of its National Sales Team, GRS is further expanding its ability to support partners across the country through large-loss response, catastrophe recovery, and national account relationships. The company specializes in water, fire, mold, storm, and biohazard restoration, as well as reconstruction and pre-loss planning services. For more information about Guarantee Restoration Services, visit www.GuaranteeRestoration.com or call 1-800-349-HELP (4357).
By Erik Seagrave July 15, 2026
Learn how Guarantee Restoration Services provides expert reconstruction services in Mobile, AL after water, fire, storm, and property damage. (
VIEW ALL BLOGS