Thanksgiving is meant to be a relaxing holiday, full of delicious food and good company. The day after Thanksgiving is also a time worth celebrating for many, with retailers all across the country flaunting shiny Black Friday deals and discounts.

However, plumbers call the day after Thanksgiving “Brown Friday.” What does such a nickname mean? In truth, the Friday following turkey day is the busiest day of the year for plumbers, as countless homeowners require emergency plumbing services on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

If you are tasked with hosting Thanksgiving this year, you are certainly more than occupied with making preparations. At the same time, it’s essential to keep Thanksgiving plumbing tips in mind to prevent any clogged drains or other plumbing problems. After all, you want your holiday to go without a hitch—and your home’s plumbing system to stay in peak shape.

Follow these five plumbing tips to ensure that your Thanksgiving is as joyful and calm as can be.

1. Keep Food Out of the Drain

While preparing your grand feast, it can be challenging to remember to dispose of food waste and leftovers properly. Unfortunately, these items can clog your kitchen sink’s drains, devastating your plumbing.

Some food items to never dump down your kitchen drain include:

Fats and oils, while appearing innocent, can harden in your home’s pipes, creating unexpected blockages. Plus, these other food items can clump together over time in your pipes, leading to clogs.

Prevent a terrifying plumbing issue by properly disposing of these foods in the trash can. Better yet, you can send these items out to your compost pile. While the holiday can be overwhelming, remember this Thanksgiving plumbing tip to keep your plumbing system happy and healthy.

2. Switch On the Garbage Disposal

If you do decide to dump food down your drain, use your garbage disposal. Another Thanksgiving plumbing tip is to remember to switch on your garbage disposal before throwing any food into your drain.

Fill your drain with cold water from your sink’s faucet before switching on the garbage disposal. What’s more, remember to keep the water running as you run the garbage disposal to avoid any clogs from forming. After all, the last thing any homeowner wants is for a garbage disposal issue to lead to emergency plumbing services on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Keep in mind that your garbage disposal doesn’t double as a trash can. Only dispose of small bits of food that can be pulverized easily without causing any drain troubles.

3. Create a Shower Schedule

If you’re hosting the holiday, there’s a chance you’re expecting many guests. With friends and family taking showers left and right in your home, your plumbing system can get overwhelmed.

To avoid blockages in your plumbing system, use a drain stopper to prevent hair from finding its way down your drains and causing a clog. This is more than a Thanksgiving plumbing tip — a good drain stopper should be used year-round.

Plus, waiting about 10 minutes between showers can ensure that your guests receive hot water. Your water heater may need time to reheat water, and back-to-back showers could have your guests enduring cold water showers and low water pressure.

4. Flush Toilet Paper—Nothing Else

Guests will also be using your home’s toilets. As such, ensure that your guests know what and what not to flush down the toilet. If you don’t, you could be facing unwanted emergency plumbing services on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

You should only flush toilet paper and human waste. Items you should never flush include:

5. Call a Plumber Before Thanksgiving

To guarantee that your plumbing system survives Thanksgiving, it’s a good idea to give your local plumber a call beforehand. You can contact a Mike Williams plumber here:

Our team of plumbers can perform a wide range of services, such as drain cleanings and repairs, to guarantee your home’s plumbing is as healthy as possible before your guests arrive.

Mike Williams also offers comprehensive drain cleanings in Springfield, IL. Nonetheless, if you find yourself needing emergency plumbing services on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, reach out to us to schedule an emergency service straight away.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *