Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest day in a plumber’s life? We receive more calls on Black Friday than on any other day. Why? Because people torture their plumbing on turkey day. They don’t do so on purpose, but in preparing for the big day, family members coming to town, and general hecticness around the house, the plumbing system seems to go at the wrong time. We don’t want this to happen to you! That’s why we’ve compiled a list of Thanksgiving plumbing tips.
A Garbage Disposal Is Not A Trash Can
In the opinion of the Thanksgiving Day chefs around here, garbage disposals are one of the most significant inventions of the modern world. Now, whether you believe this or not, chances are that if you own and frequently use the garbage disposal in your kitchen. The question is: do you put the wrong things at your disposal?
Keep in mind that your disposal is not a trash can. Tiny ninjas do not live underneath the rubber flaps slicing and dicing everything that comes into view. Think of your disposal more as an oversized cheese grater; if your cheese grater has a hard time with a particular food, that is your cue that the garbage disposal may also have a difficult go at it. Your garbage disposal is for the small chunks stuck to the plate after the meal. It’s not for pulverizing whole celery stalks or potato skins.
Don’t Do This:
- Don’t dump grease down the drain. It solidifies in your drain and can stick to the side, creating a clog. This is true even if you run hot water down after the water; therefore, grease will cool before it reaches the main sewer line. So basically, you’re just creating a blockage further down the pipeline.
Do not force large amounts of food down disposal all at once. If you have a sinkful of food remnants, scoop them up and throw them in the trash. Your wallet will thank you later. - Do not put celery, onion peels, lettuce, potato skins, or other fibrous foods at your disposal. These are difficult for the removal to handle.
- Do not put pasta, rice, or coffee in your garbage disposal. The starchy properties of rice and pasta cause these foods to stick to themselves, increasing your risk of a clog. The same goes for coffee, with a surprisingly high rate of clogging drains.
- Don’t put bones down the disposal. Avoiding this one saves your disposal, your pipes, and your ears. It’s addition; I am doubtful that the removal will even grind up the entire bone; take a few minutes and scrape plates into the trash before plopping them in the sink.
Do this:
- Always keep the water on while the disposal is going.
- Always run cold water when you turn on your garbage disposal. This one seems backward since you use hot water to wash the dishes, but cool water causes the food particles to solidify, which allows them to pass through the garbage disposal much more accessible.
- Run cool water for 60 seconds after all the food seems to be gone. This flushes out the grease left in the disposal.
- Do clean your disposal. You can do this by pouring a small dish soap down the drain and following it with cold water. You can also use the garbage disposal tablets sold in many kitchen aisles. You can even use a few slices of lemon peel for a fresh scent!
If you want to sharpen your disposal blades, throw some ice cubes down the drain occasionally.
Don’t Run The Dishwasher
If your garbage disposal happens to go out, do not run the dishwasher. In most cases, the dishwasher and garbage disposal share the same drain. Therefore, if the garbage disposal is clogged, you should assume that the dishwasher is likely plugged in. You could risk a flood and an incredibly messy problem if you run it anyway.
Sink Strainer to the Rescue
We know that the whole purpose of the garbage disposal is to have the convenience of sending food down. But, if you’re working heavily with items on the “don’t” list, invest in a sink strainer. The filter makes it easy to clean your fibrous and starchy foods out of the sink while also saving you the headache of a mid-Thanksgiving plumbing problem.
To Flush or Not to Flush
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, chances are more people will visit your restroom than usual. Remind guests to flush only toilet paper, especially if you have a septic system. Consider putting up a friendly reminder or sign for a more tactful approach.
Avoid Flushing:
- Sanitary napkins/feminine products
- Flushable wipes
- Cleaning wipes
- Cotton Balls & Swabs
- Paper towels
Give Your Pipes A Chance
Those hosting guests overnight must wait at least 20 minutes between each shower. This not only gives the water heater a chance to replenish but also gives your drains a chance to clear.
Call A Plumber Beforehand
If you’re having slight issues with your plumbing before November, the Holidays will only exacerbate the issue. Call for an appointment with a plumber before the problem gets out of hand. You’ll be glad to fix a minor issue before Turkey hits the table. Our team is standing by, ready to help you in an emergency. We know you’d instead be spending time around the table than under the sink. Keep our number on hand just in case something goes wrong. We’ll be there for you in a flash, so you can keep cooking.
Looking for help with yoru plumbing this Thanksgiving? Well, then check out our plumbing services in the following locations:
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