The term “Brown Friday” may not refer to what you think.

The day after Thanksgiving is actually when plumbers receive the most calls all year, primarily due to clogged drains and malfunctioning garbage disposals in kitchens. Surprisingly, the majority of these issues aren’t related to clogged toilets, as one might assume from the name.

A traditional Thanksgiving feast involves various foods, including grease and turkey drippings, which can overload your kitchen sink and lead to clogs. According to Mr. Rooter, a group of independently run plumbing businesses, there are certain foods that can seriously damage your plumbing system.

Why it’s better to dispose of turkey, mashed potatoes, and skins in the trash

The combination of these foods, along with the extra burden on your plumbing from holiday guests, can result in backups, clogs, and urgent repair needs.

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Data from Yelp indicates a 65% increase in searches for “emergency plumbing” during the 2023 Brown Friday compared to the two weeks surrounding Thanksgiving. Notably, on Thanksgiving Day, the search for “24-hour plumbers” peaked higher than any other day that month.

How to prepare your home to prevent plumbing crises

There are several strategies you can adopt to prepare your home and sidestep plumbing problems during this hectic time of year.

What can you put down the garbage disposal?

When operating a garbage disposal, always check to make sure it is free of utensils or foreign objects. Run cold water for 20 to 30 seconds before disposing of food waste. Keep in mind that standard garbage disposals can’t handle everything. Here’s a list of items that can safely go into a garbage disposal:

• Liquids and soft foods
• Chopped foods. Cut solid food into smaller pieces before using the disposal.
• Ice cubes. They can help clean and sharpen the disposal blades.

Things to avoid grinding:

• Fats, oils, grease
• Fibrous items (like celery, broccoli, potato peels, lettuce, onion skins)
• Uncooked pasta and rice
• Coffee grounds
• Bones
• Eggshells
• Fruit pits