The holiday season brings joy, laughter, and—if you’re hosting Thanksgiving—an overload of cooking, cleaning, and extra guests using your home’s plumbing. While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the most stressful for your drains. Plumbing emergencies skyrocket during Thanksgiving weekend, often because well-meaning homeowners (or their guests) don’t realize what shouldn’t go down the sink or toilet. With a little extra care, you can keep your home clog-free and stress-free.
Keep These Out of Your Kitchen Sink
Thanksgiving feasts are famous for their rich, hearty foods—but those same foods can wreak havoc on your pipes. Even if you have a garbage disposal, not everything belongs in it. Here are a few major culprits to watch for:
- Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG): When warm, grease and oil seem harmless. But as they cool, they solidify and cling to the inside of your pipes, forming stubborn blockages over time. Instead, pour grease into a disposable container, let it harden, and toss it in the trash.
- Potato Peels and Starches: Mashed potatoes might be a Thanksgiving staple, but potato peels and starchy foods like rice and pasta turn into a sticky paste that gums up your pipes. Scrape plates into the trash or compost before rinsing.
- Turkey Bones and Food Scraps: Bones, fruit pits, and fibrous vegetable skins (like celery) can jam your garbage disposal. Always throw these in the trash.
- Coffee Grounds and Eggshells: They seem small, but coffee grounds clump together and create sediment buildup, while eggshells add grit that can damage your disposal blades.
Be Kind to Your Bathroom Drains Too
More guests mean more bathroom traffic, and that’s another recipe for potential plumbing issues. Toilets and drains are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper—nothing else. To avoid an embarrassing backup, remind family members not to flush:
- “Flushable” Wipes: Despite the label, they don’t break down like toilet paper and often cause major clogs.
- Paper Towels, Cotton Balls, or Hygiene Products: These absorb water and expand, easily blocking pipes.
- Dental Floss and Hair: They tangle and catch debris, creating messy, hard-to-remove clogs.
It’s also smart to place small wastebaskets in bathrooms so guests aren’t tempted to flush anything that doesn’t belong there.
Preventative Tips for a Smooth Holiday
A few simple steps can save you from a costly plumbing call during your Thanksgiving dinner:
- Run water before and after using your garbage disposal to help flush out small food particles.
- Space out showers if you have guests staying over—this gives your water heater and drains a break.
- Consider using sink strainers to catch food scraps and hair before they go down the drain.
- Remind guests gently about what can and can’t go into the toilet or sink.
Keep the Focus on Family, Not Plumbing
Thanksgiving should be about good food and great company—not dealing with a clogged sink or toilet. By following these simple drain-care tips, you’ll ensure your plumbing runs smoothly all season long. Treat your pipes with a little kindness now, and they’ll thank you by staying trouble-free well into the new year.
Contact Kennihan Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. We treat your home like it’s our grandma’s home.