Keep the Gravy Flowing, And Your Plumbing System: Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and fun, but nothing puts a damper on your holiday feast like a clogged drain or a backed-up sink. While everyone’s focused on carving the turkey and piling their plates high with mashed potatoes, the last thing you want to deal with is a plumbing emergency.

The good news? With a little preparation and a few simple tips, you can keep your kitchen and bathroom drains clog-free and enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving.

1. Watch What Goes Down the Garbage Disposal

After preparing a giant Thanksgiving meal, it’s tempting to toss everything into the garbage disposal and call it a day. But remember, your disposal isn’t invincible! Certain foods can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Avoid putting these common items down the drain:

• Turkey bones – No matter how small, bones don’t belong in the garbage disposal. They can break your blades and cause serious clogs.
• Potato peels – These starchy, stringy peels can tangle up your disposal and turn into a gluey mess in your pipes.
• Grease and oils – While it might seem harmless to pour leftover grease from your turkey or gravy down the drain, it will harden and cause blockages over time. Instead, pour it into a container, let it cool, and toss it in the trash.

When in doubt, throw it out!

2. Use Your Dishwasher Wisely

After the feast, your kitchen will likely be filled with plates, pans, and silverware that need washing. The dishwasher is your best friend here, but overloading it with food-covered dishes is a recipe for disaster.

Scrape off excess food into the trash or compost bin before loading your dishwasher. This will prevent clogs in the appliance’s drainage system. Also, running it in smaller loads can help avoid strain on your plumbing and ensure cleaner dishes.

3. Give Your Bathroom a Little TLC

With a full house of guests, your bathroom will see more traffic than usual. This is the time when extra care can save you from embarrassing plumbing problems. A few quick pointers:

• Remind guests (maybe with a fun sign?) to avoid flushing anything down the toilet except toilet paper. No exceptions! Items like wipes, paper towels, and hygiene products can cause serious clogs.
• Keep plungers handy in case of minor clogs. It’s always better to be prepared, especially when there’s a line for the bathroom after dinner!

4. Take Care of Your Water Heater

Thanksgiving is all about abundance! Lots of food, lots of guests, and lots of hot water being used. Your water heater is going to work overtime, so make sure it’s ready. If you have guests staying overnight, space out showers to give your water heater time to recover. No one likes a cold shower after indulging in turkey!

5. Keep a Plumber on Speed Dial

Even with the best preparations, sometimes things go wrong. If you encounter a plumbing problem during the holidays, it’s good to have a trusted plumber on standby. At C&C Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric, we’re ready to help with any holiday plumbing emergencies you might face.

Plumbing Experts in Central New Jersey

Thanksgiving should be about spending time with loved ones and enjoying delicious food, not dealing with plumbing issues. By giving your plumbing system a little extra TLC, you can ensure a stress-free holiday.

And if you do run into any problems, C&C is here to help! Just give us a call at 732-860-2660 or visit us online to schedule your appointment.