Brown Friday: Why Plumbers Are So Busy After Thanksgiving

Image of a toilet plunger

Plumber holding a toilet plungerEveryone looks forward to Black Friday shopping deals. But plumbers have an entirely different experience on the Friday after Thanksgiving!

Our experienced D and F Plumbing team knows better than to make big shopping plans on “Brown Friday” because we’re sure to be busy. Today, we will talk about common plumbing emergencies that happen on this notorious day. Enjoy!

Big Family Gatherings Put Extra Pressure on Your Plumbing

All year long, your Grandma’s plumbing has the “duty” of disposing of gray water, waste and solids for one or two people. (See what we did there?) Slightly clogged drains and plumbing don’t act up, and no one suspects a problem. Maybe Grandma only runs the dishwasher a few times a week, and she has a small appetite.

Everything seems fine! The toilet flushes and the sinks and showers drain normally. All is well at Grandma’s house.

Then, after a magical day of cooking for 20 family members, feasting, cleaning and overindulgence, the added strain is suddenly too much. Toilets back up, sinks get clogged, and Grandma doesn’t know what to do.

Grandma needs to call a plumber.

Grandma, You’re Not Alone

The day after Turkey Day is almost always our busiest day of the year. We don’t make plans to watch the Macy’s Christmas Parade or stampede the local Walmart for cheap electronics.

Like the professional football players on TV on Thanksgiving Day, we’ve been training for this all year long. Brown Friday is our time to shine!

What Causes Plumbing Problems on Brown Friday?

Every household is unique, and every plumbing job has challenges. On Brown Friday, we usually find ourselves dealing with:

  • Clogged toilets and pipes because someone flushed feminine products, diapers, wipes and the like.
  • Sink problems and garbage disposal issues caused by turkey bones or tin foil in the system.
  • Bathroom drain issues that went unnoticed until five extra guests spent the weekend.
  • Guest bathroom issues that no one noticed because the room hasn’t been used much since last year.

If you’re like Grandma and need emergency plumbing services on a holiday, contact the “Plumbers in Plaid.” We’ve been training hard for this all year and are ready to serve the entire Portland Metro area.

Your next question is, “How can I prevent Brown Friday emergencies?” Let’s find out.

How to Prevent Holiday Plumbing Problems

Grandma has an old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And, as usual, she’s not wrong!

During the pre-holiday scramble, be aware of your water use. You may wash more laundry — think drapes and guest bedding — and run the dishwasher more often after making all those pumpkin pies. Keep an eye on your drains, and call a licensed journeyman plumber if you notice any slowness. Sometimes a quick “snake” can solve problems before they happen.

If you have a guest bathroom that’s rarely used, take it for a test drive! Spend some quality time there before Turkey Day. (You can even use the little fancy guest soaps and embroidered towels. We won’t tell.) Instead of fleeing your personal aromas immediately, stick around to ensure everything drains and flushes quickly and quietly.

Warning Signs

The best way to prevent Brown Friday mishaps is to maintain your plumbing before the holidays. Watch out for these warning signs:

  • Toilets that need plunging often, even when you’re not flushing a #2.
  • The kitchen sinks drain slowly.
  • The dishwasher backs up into the kitchen sink.
  • Any water backs up into your bathtub or shower.
  • Gurgling sounds are coming from a faucet.
  • Poor water pressure.
  • Unusually high water bills.
  • Any wetness in your basement or a puddle around your sump pump.

Hopefully, your Thanksgiving weekend will go off without a hitch. But emergencies don’t always happen during regular business hours. And if you need emergency plumbing on a holiday weekend, you can count on the team at D and F Plumbing. We’ve been training for this all year.

Fall Plumbing Tips

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A rainstorm soaks the roof of a house and a tree

Vibrant colored leaves, pumpkin spiced everything, and oddly early Christmas decorations in stores. Yep, it’s fall alright- and while we can’t wait to down our apple cider and dig in to some pumpkin pie, we also can’t forget that a new season brings new challenges to our home’s plumbing. Here are some tips to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape this fall.

Keep Your Gutters Clear

Fall means brilliantly covered leaves scattered everywhere- and by everywhere, we also mean the places you don’t want them. Leaves, twigs, and other debris can collect in your gutters, causing them to become clogged and overflow. Instead of water finding its way through the gutters and downspout, it’ll pour over, pooling around your house. This can erode your foundation and potentially cause flooding. Sections of your gutters could even collapse under the weight of all that water. Make sure you inspect your gutters each year in early fall, or even late summer, to make sure they’re clear of any major blockages.

Winterize Your Outdoor Faucets

The changing of the seasons means lower temperatures, so you’ll want to make sure your outdoor faucets are drained and properly insulated. First, shut off the interior valve to the outdoor faucets. With the valve turned off, next you’ll want to turn the outdoor faucet on to drain out any residual water that could potentially freeze and cause a burst pipe. Then, cover the outdoor faucets to insulate them from the cold weather.

Drain Your Water Heater

Did you know sediment will build up in your water heater? This can greatly reduce its heating efficiency- and when the weather starts getting colder, you’ll want all the efficiency you can get. You’ll want to have your water heater periodically drained and inspected by professionals so the warm water will keep flowing when you need it most. 

Check Your Sump Pump

They have an amusing name but sump pumps serve an important function. They are responsible for pumping excess water away from your home. Fall brings rain in the Pacific NW. This can cause flooding if you have a sump pump and it isn’t functioning properly. There’s plenty of water in a Pacific Northwest winter, so you’ll want to take the time to inspect your sump pump. You can test your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the sump basin and watching to see if it pumps the water away. If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to call a professional to have it repaired or replaced.

Local Plumbing Experts

Proper preparation can potentially help you avoid thousands of dollars worth of damage and provide you with peace of mind. This fall, call the plumbing experts at D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. We have convenient locations in both Vancouver WA, and Portland OR. We’ve provided quality local plumbing services to the area for over 95 years! We’ve seen a few autumns, so we know how to protect your plumbing from the hazards that the rainy Pacific Northwest can present. Don’t wait- contact D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling today!