November 25, 2024

Post-Thanksgiving Brown Friday: How to Avoid Emergency Plumbing Repairs

The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year, for shoppers and plumbers. Black Friday may kick off the holiday shopping season, but Brown Friday is notorious among plumbers for the long list of plumbing repairs needing attention after Thanksgiving gatherings.

Large family gatherings, big dinners and an overabundance of food scraps down the kitchen sink can result in clogged drains and plumbing systems in the home. People often overuse their kitchens and bathrooms during the Thanksgiving holiday, causing more backed-up pipes than usual. The kitchen takes the hardest beating, but other areas are also prone to get potential clogs and backups.

Bathrooms and laundry areas can also be overworked this time of year. For the most part, an increase in running water is a direct result from hosting family events.

Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric recommends these easy precautions to ensure you can be grateful your pipes are being taken care of this Thanksgiving.

Kitchen Sink/Garbage Disposal:

It’s a good idea to avoid putting any food down the drain even if you have a garbage disposal. Before you pour soft, small, liquid foods into the garbage disposal, run it for a brief period of time. Wipe off any excess grease from pans and never pour any grease, turkey droppings or leftover cooking oil down the drain. Disposals can handle small amounts of scraps but most food should go in the trash or compost bin.

Dishwasher:

Scrape food off dishes before washing them and don’t use more dishwashing detergent than recommended.

Showers & Laundry Room:

Spread out showers and laundry loads to give the pipes time to drain. Give your hair a good brush before showering and invest in a mesh shower drain catcher to prevent hair from building up and clogging the drain.

Bathroom:

Don’t flush wet wipes and other products down toilets even if they are rated “flushable” on the label. Most flushable wipes won’t dissolve and may clog drainpipes and sewers. As a precaution, each guest bathroom should have a plunger to solve any possible clogging issues as quickly as possible.

Taking care of pipes during the holiday season prevents costly repairs and can stop leaks, clogs and water damage from happening in the future. Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric wants your pipes to be in superb shape for hosting family events this cherished season, so you can enjoy Black Friday shopping deals without worrying about plumbing repair costs.