www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2003/11/28/plumbers_prepare_for_post_thanksgiving_clogs/Plumbers prepare for post-Thanksgiving clogs
11/28/2003
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- They're not clerks and sales personnel, but every year they brace themselves for the onslaught that follows Thanksgiving.
Plumbers.
"The day after Thanksgiving is our busiest day of the year," said David Deasis, assistant manager of the local office of Rescue Rooter. "A lot of people stuff what's left from dinner down the drain and it gets all clogged up. Then they call us."
One problem is that people assume a sink garbage disposal can grind and flush just about any scrapings from the plate, including chunky turkey bones.
"They're called garbage disposals, so people think they can stuff anything in the whole world down there," said Chris McIlrath, owner of AA Plumbing, "but they're not made for that.
"If you put the food on a plate into the garbage can and just rinse the plate off into the disposer, you'll never have a problem."
Thanksgiving also can produce plumbing problems elsewhere in the house as visiting friends and relatives overload toilets and sink and shower drains, said Robin French, a Roto-Rooter production manager in Lynnwood.
"The more usage, the more chance for them to get clogged," he said.