Roto-Rooter is bracing for its busiest time of the year as Thanksgiving approaches, with incoming service calls expected to surge 50 percent above average on Black Friday. The industry-wide phenomenon, dubbed “Brown Friday” by plumbers, overwhelms American drains nationwide due to the combination of turkey grease, starchy side dishes, and increased household usage from holiday guests.
“Turkey grease, starchy side dishes, and holiday guests all converge to create perfect storm conditions for backups and clogs,” said Paul Abrams, spokesman for Roto-Rooter. “What many homeowners don't realize is that their drains are already partially compromised. The holiday rush is just the trigger. The smart move is preventative service before guests arrive - not emergency calls when sewage backs up into your home.”
During the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, Roto-Rooter averages a 21 percent surge in service requests. The most common culprits include turkey drippings and cooking grease that solidify inside pipes like candle wax, rice and pasta that break down into a clogging gel, overtaxed systems from multiple showers and toilet flushes, and tree root intrusion in main sewer lines that erupts when drain volume increases. A holiday sewage backup can spoil a precious family holiday and ruin celebrations.
In response, Roto-Rooter's 7,000 service technicians nationwide are working and on-call through the entire holiday weekend, including Thanksgiving Day itself, to handle emergency calls. However, the company emphasizes a proactive approach. “Schedule preventative sewer or drain cleaning now instead of emergency calls later,” Abrams recommends. Customers can book services through November at rotorooter.com or by calling 1-800-GET-ROTO. Many branches are offering pre-Thanksgiving maintenance packages to help homeowners avoid the rush and potential disasters. For those facing emergency situations during the holiday, Roto-Rooter guarantees a rapid response and no surprise service fees.
Additionally, Roto-Rooter is celebrating its seventh annual Giving Thanks Food Drive throughout November. Customers can save $55 with the donation of a non-perishable item through participating branch offices or at rotorooter.com/fooddrive.
Homeowners are encouraged to schedule preventative drain cleaning online or by phone, access emergency plumbing services available Thanksgiving Day and throughout the weekend, and learn clog-prevention tips at rotorooter.com/blog. With 24-hour availability and service in most major U.S. markets, Roto-Rooter aims to keep homes running smoothly before, during, and after the holidays.
