With Thanksgiving approaching, Roto-Rooter is bracing for its busiest time of the year, anticipating a 50 percent surge in service calls on Black Friday, a phenomenon known in the plumbing industry as “Brown Friday.” The company warns that waiting until disaster strikes is a costly mistake, as turkey grease, starchy side dishes, and increased guest usage create ideal conditions for clogs and backups.
“Turkey grease, starchy side dishes, and holiday guests all converge to create perfect storm conditions for backups and clogs,” said Paul Abrams, spokesman for Roto-Rooter. “What many homeowners don't realize is that their drains are already partially compromised. The holiday rush is just the trigger. The smart move is preventative service before guests arrive - not emergency calls when sewage backs up into your home.”
During the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, Roto-Rooter averages a 21 percent surge in service requests. The most common culprits include turkey drippings and cooking grease that solidify inside pipes like candle wax, rice and pasta that break down into a clogging gel, overtaxed systems from multiple showers and laundry loads, and tree root intrusion in main sewer lines that erupts when drain volume increases. A holiday sewage backup can spoil a precious family holiday.
To address the rush, Roto-Rooter’s 7,000 service technicians nationwide are working and on-call throughout the holiday weekend, including Thanksgiving Day. However, the company emphasizes a proactive approach. “Schedule preventative sewer or drain cleaning now instead of emergency calls later,” Abrams recommends. Customers can book services through November at rotorooter.com or by calling 1-800-GET-ROTO. Many branches offer pre-Thanksgiving maintenance packages to help homeowners avoid potential disasters.
For those facing emergencies, Roto-Rooter guarantees rapid response and no surprise service fees. Additionally, the company is celebrating its seventh annual Giving Thanks Food Drive throughout November, where customers can save $55 with the donation of a non-perishable item through participating branches or at rotorooter.com/fooddrive.
Homeowners are encouraged to schedule preventative drain cleaning, learn clog-prevention tips at rotorooter.com/blog, and take advantage of 24-hour availability to keep their homes running smoothly before, during, and after the holidays.
