Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for plumbers - but not for the reason you think
- Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for plumbers, who receive up to 50% more calls than they do on a normal Friday.
- Clogged sinks are the most common problem, since people try to improperly dispose of food scraps.
Plumbers like buying discount TVs as much as anyone, but don't expect them to join you in much Black Friday shopping.
For plumbers, the day after Thanksgiving is "Brown Friday."
Roto-Rooter, the largest supplier of plumbing, sewer, and drain services, says Black Friday is busiest day of the year for plumbers. Calls for services increase by up to 50% compared to a normal Friday, and up to 27% over a regular Friday-to-Sunday period.
But don't blame the human waste that follows a hearty Thanksgiving meal.
"It's not even close," Paul Abrams, director of public relations for Roto-Rooter, told ABC. "The number one reason for calls is kitchen sink drains and garbage disposals."
When in the throes of cooking a Thanksgiving feast, it may seem okay to wash wads of potato skins, bits of turkey, or oily drippings down the drain. But Roto-Rooter advises people to throw all solids and oils away, and never to use the toilet to dispose of scraps that don't fit down the sink.
"This time of year, homes have extra occupants in the form of holiday guests who are taking extra showers and flushing more toilets," Abrams said in a statement. "That alone puts additional stress on many residential drain systems."
Adding in other bulky objects only raises the chance that your Black Friday will turn brown.