Written By Davin Womeldorff
Licensed Contractor at Presidential Plumbing
Email questions to: [email protected]
Thank you to Joyce T. from Palm Desert for this timely question: “What can I do to prevent problems during the holidays?”
With the holidays fast approaching, plumbers everywhere are bracing for what we lovingly call “Plumber’s Black Friday”—not for the sales, but for the sink backups. That’s right, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest plumbing days of the year. So before you stuff that turkey, let’s talk about how to keep your drains merry and bright.
First rule: grease is not gravy for your pipes. Pouring turkey drippings or bacon fat down the drain might seem harmless, but once it cools, it hardens into a greasy clog worthy of a horror movie. Instead, pour it into a can, let it solidify, and toss it in the trash.
Second, your garbage disposal is not a wood chipper. Avoid feeding it potato peels, celery, bones, or that mystery casserole your cousin brought. These belong in the trash, not your drain. If you must use the disposal, run cold water and feed it small bits at a time.
And finally, beware of “helpful” kitchen assistants. Every year I hear, “I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to do that!” right before I pull out the snake. Sometimes true teamwork means setting the table while the chef takes charge of the sink.
Follow these tips, and you’ll save your sanity—and your plumber’s holiday weekend! Keep those pipes flowing and your turkey leftovers worry-free.
Keep your drains—and your questions—flowing! [email protected]
