3 Common Plumbing Mistakes To Avoid This Thanksgiving
Have a Happy Thanksgiving - not a stressful one
Posted 15:45 September 07, 2022
Last Updated 15:45 September 07, 2022
The day after Thanksgiving isn't just the biggest day of the year for retail shopping, it's also the biggest day of the year for plumbing calls. Jokingly known as Brown Friday among plumbers, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of year for plumbing service calls. Big meal preparation and kitchen cleanup often overload the sink and disposal, creating extra work for plumbers. Here we've outlined 3 of the most common plumbing mistakes you can avoid. Don't fall victim to an expensive plumbing bill this holiday season.
It's tempting to throw whatever you want down the garbage disposal. But contrary to popular belief, not everything can go down your garbage disposal. There are lots of Thanksgiving items that shouldn't make that trip. Most garbage disposal clogs come from vegetable skins, eggshells, bones, and animal fat or grease. Don't put these things down your garbage disposal. Take them out to the trash or compost instead. Additionally, whenever your disposal is running, make sure the water is running first. This helps the blades catch food particles and break them down small enough to pass through your plumbing.
Solutions like Drano may not be the best. If you have older pipes, drain cleaning products will eat them away over time, and that's not a good thing.
When you have big parties, the toilets in your house will see a lot higher use. While it is temping to relegate all guests to one bathroom, a better practice is to let guests use all the bathrooms in your house. Before the party make sure you've inspected your toilets for odd sounds and leaks, and make sure none are constantly running.
Lots of people don't follow flushing etiquette. They try to flush too much toilet paper, they flush things they know they shouldn't, or they don't flush at all. Have plungers nearby each toilet for your guests to use if necessary.
Don't pick Thanksgiving to become a DIY expert. Know your limits. If you attempt to fix a problem yourself without knowing what the real problem is, there's a good chance you'll turn a small plumbing problem into a large plumbing problem. Always keep the All Trades phone number at hand so you can call in the experts when plumbing issues strike.
Mistake #1: A garbage disposal is not something you jam everything and anything down
It's tempting to throw whatever you want down the garbage disposal. But contrary to popular belief, not everything can go down your garbage disposal. There are lots of Thanksgiving items that shouldn't make that trip. Most garbage disposal clogs come from vegetable skins, eggshells, bones, and animal fat or grease. Don't put these things down your garbage disposal. Take them out to the trash or compost instead. Additionally, whenever your disposal is running, make sure the water is running first. This helps the blades catch food particles and break them down small enough to pass through your plumbing.
Solutions like Drano may not be the best. If you have older pipes, drain cleaning products will eat them away over time, and that's not a good thing.
Mistake #2: Don't take your toilet(s) for granted
When you have big parties, the toilets in your house will see a lot higher use. While it is temping to relegate all guests to one bathroom, a better practice is to let guests use all the bathrooms in your house. Before the party make sure you've inspected your toilets for odd sounds and leaks, and make sure none are constantly running.
Lots of people don't follow flushing etiquette. They try to flush too much toilet paper, they flush things they know they shouldn't, or they don't flush at all. Have plungers nearby each toilet for your guests to use if necessary.
Mistake #3: Not knowing the limits of a DIY fix
Don't pick Thanksgiving to become a DIY expert. Know your limits. If you attempt to fix a problem yourself without knowing what the real problem is, there's a good chance you'll turn a small plumbing problem into a large plumbing problem. Always keep the All Trades phone number at hand so you can call in the experts when plumbing issues strike.
