Thanksgiving is a time for food, family, and celebration. It’s also one of the busiest times of year for plumbers. Each year, emergency drain calls spike on the Friday after turkey day due to the influx of cooking, baking, and post-feast cleanups in kitchens across Rowley, MA, and all of Essex County, MA. While you’re busy preparing your holiday meal and enjoying time with your loved ones, the last thing you want is a clogged drain or a malfunctioning garbage disposal.
This holiday season, you can help avoid calling Maffei Services for an emergency drain cleaning by keeping certain foods and materials out of your kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and drain. Many of the items typically found in your Thanksgiving feast can cause major plumbing issues if they make their way down the drain. Here’s a helpful guide to keep your pipes flowing smoothly and prevent unnecessary plumbing problems.
1. Turkey Fats, Grease, and Oils. One of the top culprits for kitchen drain clogs during Thanksgiving is turkey fat, grease, and oils. After roasting the turkey, it can be tempting to pour the grease and juices down the drain. However, doing so is a recipe for disaster. Grease solidifies as it cools, coating the pipes and causing slow drains or complete blockages.
What to Do Instead:
Let the grease cool and solidify, then scrape it into the trash. You can also store it in a container to dispose of later.
2. Potato, Onion, and Carrot Peels. During Thanksgiving dinner prep, you’ll likely be peeling potatoes, carrots, and onions. While these vegetable scraps seem harmless, they can quickly become a major issue when disposed of down the drain. Potato peels, in particular, turn into a starchy paste that can easily clog up your pipes.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of these peelings in the trash or compost bin. Consider using a composting method for other vegetable scraps to keep things eco-friendly.
3. Pumpkin Flesh. Pumpkin is a favorite ingredient for pies and savory dishes, but the flesh and fibers of pumpkin can wreak havoc on your plumbing. The dense texture can easily stick to the pipes, causing buildup and blockages.
What to Do Instead:
Scrape pumpkin flesh into the trash or compost pile, not down the sink. If you’re using canned pumpkin, avoid pouring the liquid down the drain as well.
4. Egg and Seafood Shells. Eggshells may seem like a harmless addition to your disposal, but they can actually create clogs in your pipes over time. The membrane inside the shell can get stuck in your disposal, and the small particles can combine with other debris to form a clog. The same goes for seafood shells; they are too hard and fibrous for the disposal to handle.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of eggshells and seafood shells in the trash, not down the sink or garbage disposal.
5. Artichokes, Celery, and Asparagus. These fibrous vegetables are difficult for garbage disposals to break down. They can quickly clog up your drain and are notoriously tough to grind. Artichokes, celery, and asparagus tend to get stuck in the disposal blades and may cause damage if they get lodged in your system.
What to Do Instead:
Cut up these vegetables into smaller pieces and compost or throw them away. Avoid putting large quantities of fibrous vegetables down the disposal.
6. Raw Dough (For Pie Crust and Bread). While preparing pie crusts or bread dough, the raw dough can create problems if it’s sent down the drain. Dough is sticky and can expand when exposed to water, leading to serious blockages in your pipes.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of dough scraps in the trash. Scrape any excess dough into the garbage or compost bin to keep your pipes clear.
7. Rice, Oats, and Pasta. While these ingredients are commonly used in Thanksgiving meals, they are notorious for causing clogs when they’re sent down the drain. Rice, oats, and pasta absorb water and swell up, which can easily lead to blocked pipes.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of rice, oats, and pasta in the trash. Be especially careful when rinsing pasta or rice in the sink—avoid sending it down the drain by using a colander or strainer.
8. Nuts, Fruit Pits, and Seeds. If you’re preparing dishes with nuts, fruit pits, or seeds, don’t be tempted to toss them down the drain. These hard objects can damage your disposal blades and contribute to clogs. Even small seeds can be problematic when they get lodged in the drain.
What to Do Instead:
Throw away nuts, pits, and seeds in the trash. Alternatively, save them for composting if you want to go the eco-friendly route.
9. Corn Cobs, Husks, and Celery Stems. Like other fibrous materials, corn cobs, husks, and celery stems are difficult to break down in a garbage disposal. They can wrap around the blades and cause damage or become stuck in your pipes.
What to Do Instead:
Remove the corn kernels and compost or dispose of the husks and cobs in the trash. Similarly, discard celery stems properly.
10. Gravy and Meat. Rich, fatty foods like gravy and meat sauces may seem liquid, but they contain oils and fats that can solidify in your pipes and lead to clogs. Avoid dumping leftover gravy and meat drippings down the sink.
What to Do Instead:
Dispose of these leftovers in the trash once they’ve cooled. If necessary, you can collect excess fat in a container for easy disposal.
11. Coffee Grounds and Wine Corks. Coffee grounds are a sneaky clog-causer, especially when they mix with grease and other debris. Similarly, wine corks can get caught in the disposal and cause damage. Both of these items should never go down the drain.
What to Do Instead:
Throw coffee grounds in the trash or compost them. Wine corks should be properly disposed of or recycled.
12. Non-Food Items. Finally, remember that non-food items like paper towels, napkins, and cleaning wipes should never go down the drain. These items don’t break down easily and can cause severe clogs.
What to Do Instead:
Always dispose of non-food items in the trash.
Enjoy the Holiday Without Worrying
This Thanksgiving, be mindful of what goes down your drains to avoid plumbing problems. Following these simple tips can save you from a messy, inconvenient clog and the need to call Maffei Services for emergency drain cleaning. By properly disposing of food scraps and non-food items, you can ensure that your kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and drains stay clear, so you can focus on enjoying the holiday without worrying about plumbing issues.
