December is a whirl of cooking, baking and hosting that puts your plumbing to the test.

Festive cooking sprees can be a recipe for disaster for your drains, with December consistently showing peak Google searches for those with "blocked drain" issues.

Emergency call-outs are expensive, and if your plumbing emergency falls on a bank holiday this Christmas, a professional can be difficult to come by.

Fortunately, a drains expert says a few cheap tips under a tenner could clear out blockages.

Jonathan Christie, CEO & Drains Expert of The Property Buying Company, warns that the fat, oil, and food waste from Christmas dinner preparations can lead to serious and costly drain blockages, with repair bills averaging £200 to £400.

He said: "The combination of turkey fat, roast potato oil, and other cooking residues can quickly harden in pipes, creating stubborn blockages that may lead to burst pipes. What starts as a festive feast can end up being a plumbing nightmare."

Jonathan recommends a two-step approach to tackle drain issues before they require expensive professional intervention - especially as colder weather makes drains block far easier:

Unblock it yourself with a £5 solution

The drains expert recommends a metal coiled waste pipe cleaner, available from most hardware stores for around £5.

Jonathan said: "They can be incredibly effective at removing early and late stage blockages, indoors and outside where your drain will meet the main sewage line.

"This simple tool can save you hundreds in emergency plumber calls, and is most likely what they’ll charge you a small fortune for using themselves. You just unroll it, give the drain a good rodding and the job is done."

Prevent clogs with a £2 fix

Get ahead of the problem with a good clean before your kitchen goes into overdrive.

Christie said: "Invest in a basic drain cleaner solution from your local supermarket. Using this before Christmas, and a few times over the winter can help prevent build-up and maintain good drain flow."

How to protect your drains this Christmas

• Never pour hot fat down the sink - let it cool and dispose of it in the bin
• Wipe greasy pans with kitchen paper before washing
• Use sink strainers to catch food particles
• Run hot water after using the sink to help prevent fat solidifying
• Consider collecting cooking oils in a container for proper disposal at local recycling centers

"Prevention is always better than cure. Use these tips in conjunction with some drain cleaner and a little elbow grease of your own" added Jonathan.

"These simple steps could save homeowners hundreds of pounds in emergency repairs during the festive season when plumber callout rates are often at their highest."