The holidays bring a special kind of chaos — joyful, cozy, memory-making chaos. If you’re hosting this season, you’re probably already thinking about cleaning the guest room, planning menus, stocking up on groceries, and prepping your home for the rush. But there’s one area many homeowners overlook until it becomes a problem:

Your water system.

From extra showers and dishwashing to heavier cooking and laundry loads, December puts major pressure on your home’s water quality and filtration systems. And if you’ve ever noticed slow water flow, strange tastes, cloudy ice, or hard water symptoms during the holidays… that’s exactly why.

Preparing your water system before guests arrive not only makes your home run more smoothly — it ensures every drink, shower, and load of dishes feels as great as the season itself.

Below, we break down everything you need to know to get “holiday-ready water” this year.

Why Water Matters More During the Holidays

Most homes see a 35–70% increase in water use when hosting guests. Even small gatherings can significantly stress your systems. Here’s what changes behind the scenes:

1. More Showers & Hot Water Demand

Everyone needs to shower and get ready — often around the same time. That means:

• Water heaters work harder

• Hard water scaling becomes more noticeable

• Hot-side pressure drops become more common

If guests complain about “lukewarm water,” your system is feeling the strain.

2. Extra Cooking & Cleaning

Holiday cooking uses a surprising amount of water — boiling, rinsing produce, washing cookware, mixing drinks, and running the dishwasher multiple times a day.

Hard water and unfiltered water can make this harder by causing:

• Spotty dishes

• Cloudy glasses

• Off-flavors in coffee, tea, soups, and sauces

• Tough-to-clean pots and pans

With more eyes (and mouths) on your kitchen, clean, great-tasting water matters.

3. Laundry Load Increases

Towels, bedding, and holiday outfits… everything demands more washing. With hard water, laundry may feel rougher, stiffer, or look dingier.

4. Cold Weather + More Usage = System Slowdowns

Winter already affects:

• RO production speed

• Water pressure

• Taste and odor

• Mineral concentration

Add guests to the equation, and the strain becomes obvious.

Preparing your water system before guests arrive keeps everything running smoothly so you can focus on hosting — not fixing.

Step 1: Replace Your Filters Before the Holiday Rush

If you only do one thing on this list… make it this.

Why?

RO systems, single-stage filters, and dual-stage filters work harder in winter and even harder during holiday hosting.

Signs you need new filters before guests arrive:

• Reduced water flow

• RO tank empties quickly

• Ice looks cloudy

• Waters tastes metallic, “flat,” or overly chlorinated

• You can’t remember the last filter change

Remember:
Dupure recommends replacing pre-filters every 6–12 months, and membranes every 1–2 years.

If you hit the holidays with worn-out filters, your system won’t be able to keep up with increased demand.

Step 2: Check Your Water Softener (If You Have One)

If your home has hard water — which most new homes in Texas, Arizona, and Nevada do — your softener is a behind-the-scenes holiday MVP.

Before guests arrive:

• Make sure your softener has enough salt

• Verify it’s regenerating correctly

• Check for signs of overdue maintenance

Why it matters:

A properly functioning softener helps ensure:

• Softer bedding and towels

• Shinier dishes and less detergent use

• Better, more luxurious showers (guests notice!)

• Reduced appliance strain

• Less scale in your water heater, improving hot water availability

Nothing says “holiday stress” like running out of hot water while people are still getting ready.

Step 3: Flush Your Water Heater if It’s Been a While

Winter is the hardest season for water heaters, and sediment buildup makes everything worse.

Why it matters for hosting:

Sediment buildup can cause:

• Longer recovery times

• Noisy operation

• Lukewarm water

• Sudden temperature swings

If you’re hosting guests who like steaming showers, or a household that gets ready at the same time, your water heater needs to be in top shape.

If your home has hard water, flushing the heater is even more important because minerals scale up the tank faster.

Step 4: Test Guest Bathrooms Ahead of Time

Most guest bathrooms sit unused most of the year, which can cause:

• Stale water

• Mineral buildup

• Slow flow or pressure issues

• Dry or noisy traps

• RO lines (if connected) processing slowly

Before hosting:

• Run all taps for a few minutes

• Check hot water flow

• Test the showerhead for buildup

• Clean aerators if flow seems slow

• Flush toilets to ensure everything operates smoothly

This simple step avoids awkward “something is wrong with the bathroom” moments during holiday gatherings.

Step 5: Stock Up on Filtered Water for Cooking & Drinking

Holiday cooking is where filtered water quietly becomes a star.

Filtered water improves:

• Coffee

• Tea and hot cocoa

• Cocktails and mocktails

• Soups and broths

• Pasta, rice, and bread recipes

• Holiday baking

• Ice quality

Hard water and chlorine can noticeably alter the flavor of holiday dishes — especially for guests who aren’t used to local water taste.

If your RO system is slow or approaching capacity, replacing filters or upgrading (more on that below) ensures you always have enough high-quality water.

Step 6: Pay Attention to Pressure Changes Before Guests Arrive

Holiday hosting = increased water demand = potential pressure changes.

Check for:

• Slow hot water pressure

• RO faucet dribbling or taking long pauses

• Showerheads losing pressure after a few minutes

• Whole home pressure drop

Most pressure issues are related to:

• Old filters

• Partially clogged softeners

• Scaling in water heaters

• Seasonal municipal changes

Addressing them before hosting prevents stress later.

Step 7: Protect Pipes From Sudden Cold Snaps

December weather can be unpredictable — especially in warmer markets.

Freezing pipes may seem unlikely, but all it takes is one overnight low in the 20s for uninsulated lines to freeze, especially:

• In garages

• Under sinks

• Near exterior walls

• In attics

Quick steps:

• Keep cabinet doors open during cold nights

• Let faucets drip during freezes

• Insulate exposed pipes if needed

• Disconnect hoses

• Know your main shutoff valve location

It’s the kind of thing you hope you’ll never need… but holiday timing has a way of testing systems at the worst moment.

Step 8: Consider an RO Upgrade Before the Holidays

If you don’t have a reverse osmosis system — or yours is older — the holiday season is one of the smartest times to upgrade.

Why?

1. Cold weather slows RO production

Winter makes RO systems naturally slower. More guests = more demand.

2. A new RO means faster, cleaner water

Perfect for:

• Cooking

• Holiday baking

• Drinks

• Guests filling water bottles

• Making ice

3. The taste difference is noticeable

Especially for guests used to different water sources.

4. An upgrade now means fresher water all winter long

No waiting until problems appear.

Adding RO before the holidays instantly elevates the experience for everyone.

Quick Holiday Water System Checklist

For those who want a simple version — here’s the seasonal checklist:

✓ Replace pre-filters & RO filters
✓ Check softener salt levels
✓ Flush your water heater
✓ Run guest bathroom fixtures
✓ Clean aerators and showerheads
✓ Watch for pressure changes
✓ Prepare pipes for cold snaps
✓ Upgrade your RO if needed

Complete this list, and your home is officially ready for the holiday rush.

Give Your Home (and Guests) the Gift of Better Water

Hosting for the holidays is stressful enough — your water system shouldn’t add to it. A little preparation goes a long way toward smoother mornings, better meals, cleaner dishes, and happier guests.

Whether you’re upgrading your system, replacing filters, or making sure everything is ready for company, December is the ideal time to give your home the gift of clean, reliable, high-quality water.

If you need recommendations or assistance before the holidays hit, Dupure is here to help.