Why are Plumbers so Busy After Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is the biggest family holiday of the year in the United States. We gather together to cook tons of food and travel long distances to see family across the country. Then we rush out on our shopping sprees on Black Friday or order online on Cyber Monday.

It is a great time for turkey sellers and plumbers to make money. Yes – plumbers. You may wonder why plumbers are so busy after Thanksgiving, but the answer won’t surprise you.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why plumbers can easily increase their revenue over Turkey Day Weekend.

Why Are Plumbers So Busy After Thanksgiving?

The answer is simple – all that cooking can lead to some serious plumbing problems. From clogged drains to overflowing toilets, there’s no shortage of things that can go wrong in the kitchen and bathroom during Thanksgiving. And when things go wrong with the plumbing, you need to call a professional to fix it.

That’s where the plumbers come in.

Clogged Sinks and Drains

One of the most common problems that plumbers are called to solve after Thanksgiving is clogged sinks and drains. When you cook a big holiday meal, there’s bound to be a lot of food that goes down the sink. And if you’re not careful, all that food can lead to a serious clog.

Turkey bones, grease, and vegetable scraps can easily build up and block your drains. If you don’t want to call a plumber, there are some things you can do to prevent clogs.

Prevent Clogs

First, invest in a good quality sink strainer. This will catch any food scraps before they have a chance to go down the drain. You should also avoid putting grease and oil down the sink.

Grease can solidify in the pipes and cause a serious clog. Finally, be sure to run hot water down the drain for a minute or two after you finish cooking. This will help to break up any food that’s clinging to the sides of the pipes.

Garbage Disposal

While garbage disposal is handy for getting rid of food scraps, it’s not indestructible. If you’re not careful, you can easily damage your garbage disposal – and that’s something you’ll want to avoid during the holiday season. To keep your garbage disposal in top shape, avoid putting hard-to-grind foods down the drain.

This includes things like bones, fruit pits, and tough vegetable skins. You should also run cold water while the disposal is in use. This will help to keep the blades sharp and prevent them from overheating.

Overflowing Toilets

Another common problem that plumbers are called to solve after Thanksgiving is overflowing toilets. When you have a lot of people in the house, it’s not uncommon for a toilet issue to occur at some point. If the main drain gets clogged, a toilet may overflow if you flush it while someone is in the shower.

When you have an overflowing toilet, turn off the water at the valve behind the toilet and call a plumber.

Flushing Items You Should Not Flush

If you have lots of guests, someone may accidentally put something in the toilet that doesn’t belong there. To avoid this problem, make sure everyone in the house knows what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet. I have friends and family that have made cute signs over their toilets to keep everyone informed of what not to do.

Contrary to popular belief, all toilet paper is not good for your toilet. Some brands of toilet paper are more likely to cause clogs than others. Thick, plush toilet paper causes many clogs.

Paper towels are a big – no no! If you’re not sure which brand to use, ask your plumber for a recommendation. If you do have a clogged toilet, there are some things you can do to try to fix it yourself.

Fixing a Clogged Toilet

Most people keep a plunger in the house. The first thing you should do is try to plunge the toilet. This may be enough to dislodge the clog and get the water flowing again.

If that doesn’t work, you can try using a plumber’s snake. This is a long, flexible piece of equipment that can be inserted into the toilet to try to clear the clog. If neither of these things works, you’ll need to call a plumber.

Hot Water Heater

The water heater is another appliance that can be put under a lot of strain during the holidays. With all the extra cooking and bathing, it’s not uncommon for the water heater to break down. If you find that you’re running out of hot water, there are a few things you can do.

First, try turning up the temperature on the thermostat. It will give you more hot water, but it will also increase your energy bill. Residents and house guests can also try taking shorter showers.

It will conserve hot water and help prevent the water heater from breaking down. If people are staying over the weekend, ask them to be mindful of shower time. If your water heater does break down, you’ll need to call a plumber to have it repaired or replaced.

How To Prevent Plumbing Issues During The Holidays

Before you prepare to welcome guests for the holiday weekend, you may want to take a few steps to prevent some issues:

• Have guests use the trash can exclusively
• Clean the drains before and after dinner prep
• Supply the bathroom with septic-safe toilet paper

Using the trash can may be a no-brainer, but many people flush things like cotton balls and Q-tips down the toilet. These items don’t break down and can cause clogs. In the kitchen, make sure people use the trash can and take out the trash more frequently if needed.

Clean your drains before and after you do any cooking. It will help remove any grease or food particles that could cause a clog. Use a simple solution of vinegar and baking soda to clean most drains.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re using septic-safe toilet paper. This type of toilet paper breaks down better and is less likely to cause clogs. You can even buy recycled toilet paper that’s septic-safe.

Thanksgiving Does Not Have to Wreck Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Thanksgiving is over, but your work is not yet complete. Now it’s time to deal with the aftermath of all that cooking, eating, and entertaining. For many people, this means dealing with a clogged drain or overflowing toilet.

And for some unlucky folks, it may even mean dealing with a broken water heater. Luckily, you can prevent the above issues by following some simple steps.