The big day is finally here! The beds are made, the rolls are rising, and the turkey is inching toward perfection in the roaster. It’s going to be the best Thanksgiving yet because you’ve planned it all down to the minute! Nothing (not even Great Auntie’s unsolicited advice) is going to ruin it for you.
But what is this? You’re trying to grind up food scraps in your garbage disposal and it stops draining! Someone yells from the back that the toilet won’t flush. A sketchy something is bubbling up in the shower. And did Auntie just say she can’t hold it any longer?
Every drain in the house is backed up. How could this happen to you? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Thanksgiving weekend is historically busy for plumbers
Most people aren’t aware that the holidays (especially Thanksgiving) are the busiest days of the year for plumbers. There are a few reasons for that:
- Holiday meals are usually loaded with grease. Your plumbing hates grease.
- The load on your drain system is higher because of the extra company (and all their extra flushes).
- Potato peels (and apple peels and carrot peels…). They’ll gunk up your garbage disposal faster than you can say, “Pass the gravy.”
Holidays are stressful enough without having to find, schedule, and pay a plumber. So here are 5 tips straight from TLC plumbers to help you avoid holiday disasters!
Plumbing tips for the holidays:
- Decrease the grease We don’t mean you shouldn’t cook with grease (the flavor’s in the fat, after all), but don’t put any grease down your sink or toilet drains. And don’t be fooled by the old wives’ tale that if you chase it down with hot water, it’s okay. It’s not! Grease is a major cause of plumbing clogs. Let the grease cool, then scrape it into the garbage or a disposable container.
- Be kind to your garbage disposal Garbage disposals are great, but they’re not magic food digesters. We suggest you scrape all food waste into the compost or trash before doing dishes. Obviously, a little bit of food debris is normal. That’s what your disposal is for. But if you’re putting chunks of turkey and ‘taters in there, the ground-up pieces can clump together and cause a clog in the pipe.
- Peels of all kinds go in the compost or the garbage It’s easy (and weirdly satisfying) to peel potatoes, carrots, and apples directly into the sink. You rinse them down with water, turn on the disposal, and voila! you have a clogged kitchen sink. Fruit and vegetable peels simply don’t grind well and can gum up your garbage disposal. Throw them in the compost or the garbage and save yourself a headache.
- Use bacterial enzymes to keep your drains happy Bacterial enzymes like Lenzyme are fantastic clog-preventers! They’re natural, healthy enzymes that eat at the debris and grime that build up in your pipes (without harming the plumbing). They spread through your plumbing system and keep it in great working condition! This is a good alternative to toxic drain cleaners like what you might find in the store.
- Schedule a pre-holiday drain inspection Scheduling a drain inspection or cleaning before the holidays can save you a lot of trouble (and money) later. If you’ve recently had a cleaning, then go enjoy some worry-free baking. But if your drains clog as often as traffic at 5 pm, you might want to get everything checked before the in-laws arrive.
Pro Tip: One of our drain experts suggests pouring hot grease into a disposable container. Put a metal spoon in there with it so that the metal absorbs the heat and the plastic doesn’t melt.
Pro Tip: Don’t use drain cleaners like Drain-O. It’s not because they don’t work at all. They can be quite effective on minor soft clogs. The problem is that they’re toxic. They can be dangerous to you, and they’re certainly hard on the plumbing. They also create a hazardous environment for your plumber, which may lead to increased service costs. Go the Lenzyme route instead.
To buy Lenzyme: You can either ask your TLC plumber for it next time they’re out, or you can purchase it at our location in Albuquerque. We’re located at 5000 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. We’d love to see you, so come on by!
You can have a “no sweat” holiday
We’re guessing you don’t want to invite us to Thanksgiving. We understand. You want to be enjoying food, remembering the year, and laughing with friends and family! Following these drain tips will help keep your holidays as hassle-free as possible. (Not totally hassle-free, the turkey is still your responsibility…)
And remember, if the unthinkable happens, we’re only a phone call away! Yes, even on turkey day. Give us a call at 505-761-9644 or request an appointment online.