It's Brown Friday: Is Your Plumbing Paying the Price for Yesterday's Feast?

Today is Brown Friday, historically one of the busiest days of the year for plumbing professionals. The high volume of cooking and waste disposal from Thanksgiving often leads to significant drain issues. The fats, oils, grease, and food scraps from yesterday's feast can quickly solidify, causing a severe Drain Clog in your system.

If you are currently experiencing slow drainage, gurgling sounds, or any foul odors from your kitchen sink, immediate action is necessary. To help you protect your plumbing and potentially avoid an Emergency Plumbing call, we have compiled three essential checks you can perform right now.

Brown Friday Survival Checklist: 3 Things to Do Now

1. The FOG Check (Fats, Oils, Grease)

Did you pour any gravy, turkey drippings, or pan grease down the sink yesterday? If so, that grease is now cooling and hardening, clinging to the inside of your pipes.

Action: Run hot water down the drain for a few minutes to help liquefy any recent buildup. Follow this with a strong stream of cold water to flush it through.

Prevention: NEVER pour grease down the drain. Scrape it into a container and throw it in the trash.

2. The Disposal Test

Your garbage disposal worked overtime yesterday. It may be jammed or clogged with fibrous waste like potato peels or celery.

Action: If your disposal is humming but not grinding, turn it off immediately. Use a wooden spoon handle (never your hand!) to try and dislodge any stuck food. Then, run cold water and turn it back on.

Prevention: Remember, the disposal is for small scraps only. Keep all fibrous and starchy foods out of it.

3. The Guest Bathroom Audit

With a house full of guests, your toilets were under pressure. "Flushable" wipes are the number one culprit for toilet clogs.

Action: If a toilet is flushing slowly, use a plunger immediately. If that doesn't work, stop using it and call us.

Prevention: Place a small sign next to the toilet reminding guests to only flush toilet paper.

When to Call J. Blanton Plumbing

If you have a complete blockage, sewage backing up, or water flooding your home, you have a true Emergency Plumbing situation. Don't waste time with harsh chemical drain cleaners—they rarely work and can damage your pipes.

It's Brown Friday, and we're ready. If your pipes are giving you trouble, call J. Blanton Plumbing immediately. We'll get your drains flowing freely so you can get back to enjoying your leftovers and your long weekend.

Call us now for emergency drain service!