Thanksgiving is a wonderful time filled with family, turkey, and…clogged drains?
Sometimes, the Thanksgiving festivities are simply too much for your plumbing system to handle—and you’re not the only one!
Thanksgiving emergencies are far too common. They’re so common, in fact, that the day after turkey day is always a busy one for plumbing companies.
So, how do you make sure that it’s not you calling your plumber in a panic?
Cleaning up after Thanksgiving can be an ordeal. There are extra mashed potatoes to put away, countertops and tables to wipe, wine glasses to collect, and plates to clean.
We don’t blame you for wanting to take a few shortcuts to speed up the whole cleaning process! However, scraping Thanksgiving remnants down the sink is not in your best interest.
Inevitably, there will be some food scraps left behind on the plates of your family members.
Resist the urge to throw these leftovers down the drain and call it a day. Otherwise, you’re likely to clog the drain at the worst possible time.
Sticky and starchy foods should never go down the sink. Sweet potatoes, turkey skin, fruit pits, and bones will wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Instead, toss these leftovers into the garbage, compost pile or organics bin.
Clearly, there’s a trend here. A lot of things simply do not belong in the drain, including cooking grease, leftover fats, and oil.
These substances may be liquid when you pour them down your drain, but they won’t stay that way.
They quickly solidify in your pipes and cause a nasty clog. By the time you’ve finished the last mouthful of dessert, your plumbing system will be in a state of disaster. Then, the only thing you can do is call your local plumbing company.
Here’s the trick to cleaning greasy cookware: First, wipe away the grease, oil, and fat.
Alternatively, pour all of the cooled liquids from your Thanksgiving feast into a metal can. Then, throw the can away.
If this sounds like you’re preparing for war, you wouldn’t be far off. Cleaning up the aftermath of a successful Thanksgiving feast is a battle in its own right.
A garbage disposal is an incredible asset. However, you have to be strategic about how you use it on a busy day like Thanksgiving.
You may be inclined to fill the disposal with food before you turn it on. That would be a mistake.
You see, a full garbage disposal is an easy way to end up with a clogged drain. To avoid this, turn on the faucet and run the hot water before chucking in the food debris.
Once the drain has filled with hot water, add the food waste. Ensure you continue running the water even after you’ve switched the garbage disposal off, and, voila, no clogs!
This is an easy mistake to make. Of course, you want the cleanup to go as quickly as possible and restore order to your kitchen. However, running the dishwasher simultaneously with your garbage disposal is another way to get a clog.
Dishwashers and garbage disposals use the same drain. When you turn them on at the same time, food scraps from the disposal can back up into your dishwasher. If this sounds gross, that’s because it is.
The solution is simple. Don’t start the dishwasher until you’ve finished with the garbage disposal. Otherwise, your favourite plumbing company may receive an emergency call from you!
Do you have relatives visiting overnight for the Thanksgiving holiday? While we do love getting the family together for the holidays, it can be tough on your home’s plumbing system.
It would be ridiculous (and smelly) to expect your guests to abstain from showering during their visit. For the sake of your plumbing, encourage everyone to wait at least 10 minutes between showers. This small delay allows the tub drains to, well, drain.
Back-to-back showers run the risk of clogs. There simply isn’t enough time for your relative’s hair to pass through the pipes.
Spacing out showers also gives your hot water heater time to recover. Otherwise, someone is probably getting a cold shower. Hopefully, it’s not you!
The day after Thanksgiving tends to be a busy one for plumbing companies. Sadly, most households fail to follow the expert advice on this list and end up paying the price (don’t be that person).
It’s also common to neglect potential plumbing issues until it’s too late. If your home’s plumbing system is already struggling, then you’re at serious risk of a Thanksgiving Day catastrophe.
Clogged drains, leaky toilets, a slowly draining shower—any of these seemingly minor issues could derail your holiday festivities.
Save yourself an emergency call to your plumber—schedule plumbing maintenance before the long weekend.
Your plumber will inspect your home’s systems for clogs, leaks, and other issues and then make the necessary repairs.
Advanced Plumbing is here to help you avoid a Thanksgiving emergency. Our maintenance and repair services will get your plumbing system into tip-top shape long before the relatives start to trickle in from across the province.
Remember, the easiest way for you to avoid the post-Thanksgiving rush is to get any issues resolved beforehand with a professional plumbing company.
If the unthinkable happens, however, Advanced Plumbing does offer 24/7 emergency services.
A clogged drain? A ruptured pipe? Call Advanced Plumbing. To book an appointment, call Advanced Plumbing today at 866-863-9539 or contact us here.