Why is Thanksgiving a Busy Time for Plumbers?
It is a known fact in the plumbing world that the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, is one of the busiest days of the year for this industry. But the reason for the increase in business isn’t what you think it is. Of course, most minds go directly to people overusing their toilets because they overindulged on Thanksgiving.
The actual number one reason for people making a call for plumbing services on Black Friday is due to a clogged sink or broken garbage disposal. Yup! With all that cooking and prepping, people often rush through the clean-up process and put things down their sink drain and disposal that they shouldn’t.
How to avoid needing a plumber on Black Friday
As much as we love the emergency plumbing business, there are some simple things you can do to prevent an emergency around the holidays. Try taking these simple precautions on Thanksgiving to avoid clogging your kitchen sink or breaking your garbage disposal.
Clean out your garbage disposal before the holiday
This is something you should do periodically anyway, so why not add this step to your holiday prep list. Check out our latest blog about how to clean your garbage disposal safely.
Be mindful of what you put down the drain
Whether you have a garbage disposal or not, there are certain foods that you should never put in your kitchen drain. These items include fats, cooking oils, fibrous waste, bones, potato peels, poultry skin, fruit, celery, and grease. Dispose of these items, and anything else that you might be questioning, in the trash instead of the sink. It is better to air on the side of caution!
Run the garbage disposal periodically
Rather than waiting until the disposal is full, run it periodically so as not to have too much food debris build up and cause a clog. Be sure to keep the water running while running your disposal as well.
Give your pipes a break
If you are hosting guests this holiday season, your house might be attempting to handle a significant increase in the amount of showers, flushes, laundry, etc. Be sure to take short breaks in between showers, loads of laundry, and bathroom uses so as not to overwhelm your pipes.
Add signage in your business’s bathrooms
In addition to the home issues that arise with this holiday, Black Friday has many businesses inundated with significant volume increases to their stores. For commercial properties, be sure to add signs in your bathrooms reminding people not to flush anything out of the ordinary and to be respectful of your space.
You can count on Stephens
Stephens Plumbing,Heating,and Air Conditioning, wishes you, your family, and your loved ones a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. We hope these tips help you make it through the hustle and bustle of dinner prep and clean up without any plumbing issues, but if something comes up please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be out in full force this Black Friday helping with clogged sinks, broken garbage disposals, and the occasional clogged toilet!