Post-Thanksgiving Plumbing Predicaments: Real Stories from Below the Drain

The day after Thanksgiving might be all about leftovers, shopping, and lounging for most people, but plumbers better plan to be on call. For them, Friday (sometimes known as Brown Friday) is one of the busiest days of the year, with a major spike in calls to fix overwhelmed garbage disposals, backed-up toilets, and neglected plumbing issues that have now escalated. 

And when the calls start stacking up, traffic is heavier than usual, and every customer needs help “right now,” technology can make a crazy day calmer, helping plumbers stay on schedule, route trucks faster, avoid breakdowns, and keep customers updated in real time.

We teamed up with Plumber Magazine to find out what it’s really like for plumbers post-Thanksgiving and how the right tools help them make it through the rush.

Why holidays overload drains and pipes

Every Thanksgiving, millions of households cook more food, host more guests, and push their plumbing to its absolute limit. It’s the perfect storm of:

• Massive amounts of food and grease down the disposal
• Extra bathroom traffic leading to clogged toilets
• Cold weather affecting pipes
• Heavier use of water-reliant appliances like washers and dishwashers

According to the plumbers we spoke with, the surge in calls usually kicks off early Friday morning and lasts all weekend long. And the data backs it up: a 2024 Yelp report shows searches for “emergency plumbing” jumped 65% the day after Thanksgiving in 2023. Even on Thanksgiving Day, searches for “24-hour plumbers” were higher than any other day in November.

The usual suspects for plumbing panic

Plumbers we spoke with confirmed that the spike in service is predictable, preventable, and powered by a handful of recurring issues.

Most common problems cited:

• Garbage disposal jams
• Clogged kitchen sinks
• Backed-up toilets
• DIY fixes gone wrong
• “Holiday guest mishaps” (use your imagination)

Potato peels continue to be the main culprit for garbage disposal chaos. But when you toss in unsupervised kids and distracted parents — suddenly all bets are off.

Memorable offenses

Plumbers have seen it all with the stories to prove it. This is especially true the day after Thanksgiving. 

Here are just a few of the most memorable day-after-Thanksgiving calls plumbers shared with us. 

A main line with more surprises than Mary Poppins’ bag

Another plumber opened a blocked main line trap, expecting the usual mess, only to find it packed with cooking grease. Despite the counter being lined with mason jars full of bacon grease, the homeowner insisted it came through the pipes from the street or a neighbor’s house.

Once the mess was cleared, another obstruction was discovered — a giant fish. Again, the homeowner denied plausibility while an empty fish tank sat behind her, only a bubbler and treasure chest remaining. When she suggested he might’ve planted it there, he decided that was his cue. He never returned to the house…and now honks every time he drives by.

The unfortunate clog 

One call came from a teenage boy who was left home alone — and apparently entertained some “unexpected female company.” The plumber discovered the sewage lift pump wasn’t broken at all; it was jammed by a single, unmistakable "personal item." No lecture required. The evidence spoke for itself.

The potato peel pile up

A plumber was called to fix a garbage disposal that had bravely (yet unsuccessfully) attempted to grind through 15 pounds of potato peels. The fix? The clog was so extensive it required removing six full feet of drain pipe. The family was so grateful they invited the plumber to stay for dinner. Unfortunately, he was called to the next plumbing emergency.

The blocked drain ultimatum

One plumber’s mom refused to serve Thanksgiving dinner until he climbed onto the roof of her old farmhouse to clear a blocked vent. “You're not going to embarrass me in front of our guests,” she warned. Dinner was served on time.

Around the holidays, plumbers gear up for anything and everything.

How to avoid plumbing mishaps during the holidays

Most of these emergencies are preventable. 

Plumbers recommend:

• Don’t put grease, oil, or potato skins down the drain. Even the strongest garbage disposal has its limits.
• Remind guests not to flush paper towels, wet wipes, or anything else that doesn’t belong in the toilet.
• When in doubt, don’t DIY. You’ll save yourself time, money, and sanity.

Ways plumbers prepare for the post-holiday surge

While plumbers are always expecting the unexpected, there are a few key ways they prepare for the post-holiday rush:

• Stocking up on parts and supplies
• Reminding customers of the holiday do’s and don’ts ahead of time
• Scheduling extra technicians to be on call
• Extending service hours
• Staying flexible and rolling with whatever comes their way

Despite all this prep, there may be more demand than time in the day. Plumbers need to prioritize severity and rely on technology, like GPS vehicle tracking, to dispatch trucks as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Where technology makes the difference

When you’re slammed with back-to-back calls, every minute counts. Plumbers told us the tools that help them most on Brown Friday:

• Real-time GPS tracking to dispatch the closest technician
• Faster routing during heavy holiday traffic
• Real-time ETAs to keep customers informed
• Maintenance alerts to avoid breakdowns on the busiest day of the year
• Dash cams for safety and incident protection
• Tool tracking to make sure every tool makes it back on the truck

Tools that improve visibility, safety, and scheduling make a real difference on days when demand spikes and every truck is out running nonstop.

Why the right tools keep any rush running smoothly

These tools aren’t just nice to have, they’re what keep plumbers moving when calls pile up and customers informed when service windows change. Plumbers say that visibility, automatic alerts, and real-time communication are what save them from falling behind.

Plumbers can confidently show up ready to handle the weird, the messy, and the downright unbelievable. And with technology like Linxup helping keep schedules tight, trucks moving, and customers informed, the busiest day of the year becomes a little more manageable.