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Brown Friday: A Plumber’s Busiest Day of the Year

We all know Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, officially kicks off the holiday shopping season. But have you ever heard of Brown Friday? It has nothing to do with holiday shopping, or the big brown package delivery truck. Instead, it’s the term used to describe the plumber’s busiest day of the year for plumbers due to all of the clogs, leaks, and other plumbing emergencies that can happen when you have a lot of people in your house for the holiday.

But, with a little planning, you can avoid plumbing problems this holiday season, courtesy of Messmer Mechanical.

Proper Food Disposal

A simple way to prevent plumbing problems this Thanksgiving or any day of the year is to be careful what you put down the garbage disposal. There are several food items that don’t belong in the disposal, but the top 8 are: oatmeal, fats/oils/grease, bones, rice and pasta, eggshells, fibrous vegetables, corn cobs, and coffee grounds.

If it’s starchy, greasy, or fibrous, a good rule of thumb is to toss it in the compost bin or in the trash. When cooking with fat or oil, wipe off pots and pans before washing them in the sink. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on proper disposal use. Run the cold-water tap, turn on the disposal, and place food scraps in a bit at a time. Then, keep the water running for a few seconds after turning off the disposal. Furthermore, don’t run your dishwasher if your disposal is acting up – you could make matters worse.

To Flush or Not to Flush

When you have a lot of people in your home, toilet clogs are more prone to happen. Never flush paper towels, facial tissues, dental floss, cotton swabs, cotton balls, or feminine hygiene products down the toilet. And contrary to popular belief (and advertising) so-called flushable wipes also don’t belong in the toilet.

Keep a small trash basket in each bathroom so guests have a place to dispose of anything that’s not toilet paper. And keep a toilet plunger in each bathroom as well so toilet clogs can be taken care of quickly and discreetly.

Shower Smart

Hair is one of the most common culprits of clogged shower and tub drains. If you’re hosting overnight guests, use a mesh strainer to help catch hair. If you’ve got a clogged up shower drain already, pour a half cup of baking soda, into the drain and follow with a half cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz and sit for at least an hour before rinsing with water.

It’s also a good idea to ask your guests to space out their showers by about 20 minutes. This gives your plumbing a chance to catch up and prevents running out of hot water.

From leaking faucets and clogged sinks to clanking garbage disposals and no hot water, you can count of Messmer Mechanical to take care of all your plumbing woes this holiday season and every day. Contact us today or anytime the need arises.