It’s the day after the holiday that celebrates a time of thanks. A day where you unbuckle your pants and give yourself permission to let it all hang out, take multiple turkey-induced naps, and tell yourself over and over, “diet starts today”… except if you’re a plumber. If you’re a plumber: today is your Super Bowl. Well….Super (toilet) Bowl. Welcome to Brown Friday! Yes, it’s a thing. No, we didn’t choose the name. Brown Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is the busiest day of the year for plumbers.
It's not hard to understand why: crowded kitchens, bathrooms, and guest lists.
Plumbers, on average, get 50% more calls today than on any other day of the year. The other top days? The Monday BEFORE Thanksgiving and the Monday AFTER Thanksgiving, and the ACTUAL Superbowl. Basically, days where lots of greasy food and people who are distracted (*cough* drinking) are.
We get it. We also thank you for your business. Here’s some tips in case you want to prevent another holiday call to us.
However, if you DO need to be part of our high 50% call volume, we appreciate and value you all the same. Give us a call at (402) 810-8444 or book a visit online.
Here’s 6 tips to avoid celebrating Brown Friday with us and what to do if you need to!
1. Tastefully Toss
If you get stuck with kitchen cleanup duty, it can be tempting to toss the leftovers from everyone’s plates down the drain and call it a day. But throwing large quantities of food waste into the drain will overwhelm your kitchen plumbing system, causing a clog.
To prevent clogging, throw the leftovers in the garbage or into a compost pile. Food waste that is a forever no-no includes: expandable foods (rice, pasta, stuffing), coffee grounds (it gets clumpy and sticky when wet), grease and oil (absorb it with a paper towel and dispose of the paper towel in the trash, or collect larger amounts in a metal can and once full, dispose of the can in the trash)
2. Run Regularly
To avoid a plumbing disaster, turn the disposal on before you toss food into it. Then, turn on the faucet to allow the drain to fill with water before piling in the food waste. After you turn off the garbage disposal, keep the water running for a few extra seconds to prepare for next time.
3. Wait to Wash
Your dishwasher is full of dirty plates and glasses, so it’s time to run it, right? Slow down, Pilgrim. Since your dishwasher and your garbage disposal share a drain, running both at the same time could result in food scraps mixing into your dishwasher cycle.
To keep your kitchen drain system running smoothly, wait to start a load of dishes until you’re finished using the garbage disposal. If your kitchen is full of relatives who want to assist with the cleanup process, ensure that everyone knows the disposal cut-off rule. Simple communication and timing can save you a hefty bill later.
4. Stall Your Suds
If you’re hosting overnight guests during Thanksgiving weekend, encourage everyone to space out their showers to allow the tub drains to do their jobs effectively. If there are multiple showers occurring back-to-back or simultaneously, the drains won’t be able to properly dispose of the hair moving through the pipes, causing a blockage or a backup.
As for your tubs, it’s a place to bathe, not to dispose of waste. Did you shampoo your carpets before your Thanksgiving guests? Great! Look at you! Did you dump the dirty water and debris from the carpet down the sink? Call us. That goes for mop water as well. Giving your furry friends a much-needed Thanksgiving glow-up before your guests arrive? That’s great! Don’t forget to use that mesh drain cover first. Fur and dirt can be a nightmare for your drains, even in newly built homes.
5. Functional Flushing
Thanksgiving means more lines for the bathroom and shower. To prevent a cringeworthy toilet clog, ensure that you and your guests avoid flushing anything that’s not toilet paper. This rule of thumb applies to wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, facial tissues, cotton swabs and balls, and paper towels. Place an empty waste bin near the toilet so that your guests have easy access to the proper disposal. You don’t won’t turn an overnight guest into an overnight nightmare.
6. Proactive Plumbing
Remember how I said Brown Friday is our busiest day? Be proactive! Give us a call on our SECOND busiest day, the Monday BEFORE Thanksgiving. Make an appointment with us to look at that slow-running drain or water heater that’s been on the fritz before traffic in your house warrants an emergency. Don’t forget our third busiest day is always the Monday AFTER Thanksgiving. We are thankful for your business every day, though!
Call American Rooter Plumbing at (402) 810-8444 for all your plumbing needs. We offer a huge array of services to get you out of any holiday jam.