Roto-Rooter Warns of 50% Spike in Plumbing Emergencies During 'Brown Friday' Thanksgiving Weekend

Roto-Rooter is preparing for its busiest time of the year as service calls are expected to surge 50 percent above average during the Black Friday period, known in the plumbing industry as "Brown Friday" due to the overwhelming volume of drain emergencies nationwide. The company emphasizes that waiting until after disaster strikes is a mistake that could ruin holiday celebrations.

"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." Abrams recommends preventative service before guests arrive rather than emergency calls when sewage backs up into homes.

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 clogging gel, overtaxed systems from multiple showers and toilet flushes with holiday guests, and tree root intrusion in main sewer lines that erupts when drain volume increases. A holiday sewage backup can spoil family gatherings and ruin celebrations.

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. The company's strategy combines proactive and reactive approaches. "Schedule preventative sewer or drain cleaning now instead of emergency calls later," Abrams recommends. Customers can book services through November at https://www.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. The company is also celebrating its seventh annual Giving Thanks Food Drive throughout November. Customers can save $55 with the donation of a non-perishable item to the food drive through participating Roto-Rooter branch offices or at https://www.rotorooter.com/fooddrive.

Homeowners can schedule preventative drain cleaning at https://www.rotorooter.com or 1-800-GET-ROTO, access emergency plumbing services available Thanksgiving Day and throughout the weekend, and learn clog-prevention tips through the company's resources. 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.