Thanksgiving is one of the busiest cooking days of the year. Your kitchen is the center of activity with multiple pots and pans going at once, the oven running continuously, and your dishwasher working overtime. Add in extra guests using extra bathrooms, doing loads of laundry, and taking showers, and your plumbing system is under more stress than it faces any other day of the year.
This is also the time when plumbing disasters are most likely to strike. The last thing you need while hosting family and trying to manage an elaborate meal is a backed-up toilet or a kitchen sink that won’t drain. Here’s how to avoid the most common Thanksgiving plumbing problems.
The Garbage Disposal Disaster
Your garbage disposal is not a trash can. This is the most important thing to remember during Thanksgiving cooking. Items like turkey skin, stuffing, potato peels, and vegetable scraps can jam your disposal or create blockages further down your pipes.
Run your disposal frequently during cooking rather than letting scraps accumulate. Use cold water, not hot, and run the disposal for a few seconds after scraps have stopped flowing. Never put bones, grease, or stringy vegetables like celery or asparagus down the disposal.
Grease Clogs in Kitchen Drain
Turkey is delicious but also greasy. When grease goes down your sink, it flows as a liquid but solidifies as it cools. Grease mixed with food particles creates stubborn clogs that are difficult to clear. Wipe grease-laden pans and plates with paper towels before washing them. Let grease cool and solidify, then throw it in the trash.
If you do end up with a grease clog, hot water followed by a plunger sometimes helps. Avoid chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipes and create safety hazards.
Toilet Troubles from Extra Guests
Extra guests mean extra bathroom use and more stress on your septic system or municipal lines. Be proactive by having everyone use bathrooms before peak times if possible. More importantly, make sure everyone knows not to flush anything besides toilet paper and human waste.
Baby wipes, feminine products, paper towels, and dental floss all seem like they should flush but they don’t. Have a trash can clearly visible in every bathroom and encourage guests to use it.
Washing Machine Overload
Hosting guests means extra laundry. Running multiple loads of heavy items like towels and bedding can overwhelm older machines or create drainage issues. Space out laundry loads rather than running several consecutively. Make sure your washing machine drain is clear and not backed up before the holiday rush begins.
Preventive Steps to Take Before Guests Arrive
Have your main drain line inspected if you haven’t done so recently. Make sure all drains in bathrooms and kitchen are flowing freely. Have your water pressure checked to ensure it’s in the normal range. Test all toilets to make sure they’re working properly.
Consider scheduling a pre-Thanksgiving plumbing inspection. Our technicians can identify potential problems before they become emergencies while your home is filled with guests.
What to Do If Problems Occur
If a drain starts backing up during Thanksgiving, try using a plunger before resorting to chemical drain cleaners. If a toilet overflows, turn off the water valve immediately and use a plunger gently. Don’t keep flushing.
Keep the phone number for an emergency plumber readily available. Plumbing problems on holidays often require professional intervention quickly.
Enjoy Your Holiday
Thanksgiving should be about family and food, not plumbing emergencies. Taking these simple preventive steps and knowing what to avoid can mean the difference between a stress-free holiday and a disaster.
If you do experience plumbing problems despite your best efforts, call North Georgia Rooter. We’re here to help, even during the holidays, so you can get back to enjoying time with family and that delicious meal.