INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 4, 2012 – From dusting and fluffing to menu planning and decorating, homeowners put a lot of work into planning an at-home gathering, especially around the holidays. But despite all the preparations, the most likely source of trouble is often overlooked.

According to a recent Delta Faucet survey of one thousand homeowners, only one in five homeowners worried about plumbing-related issues when planning a party and just 10 percent consulted a professional plumber to address any potential problems. Interestingly, though, respondents reported a toilet malfunction would have the greatest impact on a party, more significant than running out of food or a major appliance breaking down.

“Considering guests and hosts alike cited a toilet malfunction as the biggest disaster they had experienced at a party, we were surprised to learn more homeowners don’t factor in proactive measures for preventing a plumbing problem during their party preparations,” said Mike Roberts, director of product marketing for fixtures at Delta Faucet Company. “Of the more than 40 percent of homeowners who said they had a plumbing problem while entertaining, only a third knew about the problem prior to the party. That leaves a lot of homeowners subject to a very unpleasant, and potentially embarrassing, party incident.”

Delta Faucet has teamed up with contractor and expert craftsman Chip Wade, host of HGTV’s hit new show “Elbow Room,” to help homeowners properly prepare for a holiday party and avoid such unwelcome mishaps and other holiday home stresses.

“Hosts aren’t the only ones who feel the stress of a holiday party – homes get stressed, too,” said Chip Wade. “Even just a few extra people in the house means more coats, gloves and scarves to store, plumbing fixtures working overtime to accommodate more flushes and more potential for something to go wrong.”

Wade suggests homeowners look beyond decor and dust bunnies and perform some basic maintenance on key areas of the home to ensure their home is ready for the holiday season.