EVERETT — The makers of Tums and Alka-Seltzer aren’t the only ones who see dollar signs behind the massive feasts that fill many a Thanksgiving Day table each year.
Some of what doesn’t end up in someone’s stomach finds its way into the kitchen drain, leading to clogged pipes that keep plumbers scrambling across Snohomish County to fix all of the holiday messes.
"The day after Thanksgiving is our busiest day of the year," said David Deasis, assistant manager of Rescue Rooter, which has an office in Everett. "A lot of people stuff what’s left from dinner down the drain and it gets all clogged up. Then they call us."
The problem is that many people assume that a sink garbage disposal can shred just about any food into particles small enough to be safe for pipes, he said. Some people even throw large turkey bones into the disposal.
"They’re called garbage disposals, so people think they can stuff anything in the whole world down there," said Chris McIlrath, owner of AA Plumbing in Everett. "But they’re not made for that. If you put the food on a plate into the garbage can and just rinse the plate off into the disposer, you’ll never have a problem."
Rescue Rooter usually gets few plumbing calls on Thanksgiving Day. As of late Thursday afternoon, the company hadn’t gotten a single call from Snohomish County.
"Usually, the day before is when they do the cooking, and the day after is when they do the cleaning," said Ruben Doval, a manager at Rescue Rooter.
Some people, though, clog up their drains on Thanksgiving but wait until Friday morning to call, Deasis said.
"They think we’ll charge them double or triple the price on Thanksgiving," he said. "But we don’t charge extra for holidays."
Others first try to fix the problem themselves by taking apart the pipes that hang underneath the kitchen sink and then clearing the food that’s in them. They call the plumber on Friday, when they realize the problem requires professional help, Deasis said.
For example, grease poured down the drain can form a "thick, sticky, gelatinous substance that’s almost like sludge that coats the inside of the pipe," said Robin French, production manager of Roto-Rooter in Lynnwood. Stringy celery from the holiday stuffing can "ball up like hair."
As you’re putting food down the drain — and remember to scrape most of it into the garbage can first — run the faucet, and keep the water flowing for several seconds afterward. That will help keep the solid material rushing through the pipes, French said.
Thanksgiving plumbing problems don’t just occur in the kitchen. Homes full of relatives sometimes lead to clogged toilets, sink drains and shower pipes, he said.
"The more usage, the more chance for them to get clogged," French said.
To prevent problems, make sure to leave screens in sinks and tubs. That will prevent hair from going down the drain, and it will ensure that shampoo and toothpaste caps don’t find their way into pipes.
Not everyone, of course, will take heed of these warnings. That’s why plumbers will be as busy as a sales clerk at the mall today.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
