Around Thanksgiving, plumbing companies prepare for a rush of phone calls from homeowners needing service for clogged drains, broken garbage disposals, and other sudden plumbing emergencies that threaten to make the holidays a lot more difficult to get through. We want to make sure that this does not happen in your home this year, which is why we’ve assembled a guide to some of the easiest ways to prevent plumbing issues during Thanksgiving.

• Ease up on the turkey (in the drains): Eat all the turkey you can, but try to keep large chunks of it out of the drains if possible. Too much turkey at once can cause some difficulty for the garbage disposal, which is why we recommend boxing up leftovers and throwing as many scraps in the trash can as you are able to after your Thanksgiving meal. However, if you absolutely must put your larger food scraps into the drains, rip them up into smaller pieces first.
• Don’t pour gravy into the drains: We know how harmless gravy seems, but, while delicious, gravy can potentially contribute to a plumbing nightmare. The fats can solidify within the drainpipes and the sticky residue within the pipes allow more and more residue and debris to gather until the drains are completely blocked. Some gravy is bound to make it into the drains, but large amounts of FOG (fats, oils and grease) belong in a separate container to go out with the trash.
• Take preventive measures: If your drains seem to have slowed down recently, schedule drain cleaning with a professional plumber before it’s too late! Repair or replace leaky faucets so that the day goes as smoothly as possible. And make sure you have a plunger handy in case you need it!

Get in touch with APC Plumbing & Heating for drain and sewer services in Lakewood, CO. We have someone in your neighborhood today!