Busy Season For Plumbers

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Summary

Plumbing companies say the day after Thanksgiving is the "Super Bowl" of kitchen clogs and they're working overtime to answer the calls for help.

Story Published: Nov 26, 2004 at 3:41 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:48 AM PDT

Busy Season For Plumbers
SEATTLE - 'Tis the season!

It's the busiest time to travel, to shop and believe it or not, the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers. Yes, plumbers!

It has a lot to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers.

Plumbing companies say the day after Thanksgiving is the "Super Bowl" of kitchen clogs. They usually have crews working double shifts and overtime.

"People overload their garbage disposal," explained Rick Moore with Fox Plumbing and Heating. "All the pipes underneath and the pea trap are all plugged up. We get hundreds of drain calls after Thanksgiving."

It can be an expensive nuisance. A plumbing house call typically costs about $200.

The clog culprits are usually leftovers and grease. The pipes just can't take it according to most plumbers, especially in older homes.

"A lot of food builds up into sludge and debris in your pipes," warned Moore. "Most older homes have smaller galvanized lines. What happens over time is they close up and narrow."

So, what can you put safely into your garbage disposal? Moore says stick to small table scraps and don't use you disposal as trash can.

Go ahead and enjoy those leftovers, but be kind to your drain.