As Thanksgiving approaches, Bullseye Home Services, a plumbing, drain and sewer company based in Osprey, Florida, is urging homeowners to take preventive steps to avoid plumbing emergencies on what the industry calls Brown Friday—the day after Thanksgiving, which sees a 50% spike in service calls, according to Roto-Rooter data cited by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Roto-Rooter also reports a 21% increase in calls from Thursday through Sunday of the holiday weekend, making it the busiest stretch of the year for plumbing professionals.
The surge is driven by a combination of factors: homes filled with guests, extra showers, increased kitchen use, and the disposal of holiday cooking byproducts. Greasy turkey drippings and food scraps are leading causes of clogged drains. According to Roto-Rooter, grease is the most common problem in kitchen lines. Hot drippings may be liquid when poured down the sink, but fats and cooking oils solidify in pipes, creating blockages. Stringy, fibrous and starchy food waste—such as poultry skin, celery, potato peels, rice and pasta—can jam a garbage disposal or bind with grease further down the line.
For Osprey households, the result can be a kitchen sink that won’t drain on the busiest cooking day of the year, a disposal that hums but doesn’t turn, or a toilet that backs up while the house is full. When several fixtures back up together, the cause is often the main sewer line rather than a single drain.
“The week of Thanksgiving is when a kitchen drain that has been slow for months finally stops,” said Joshua Chastain, general manager of Bullseye Home Services. “Many homes here have family staying over, so one sink and one sewer line carry far more than usual. Scrape plates into the trash, keep grease out of the disposal, and if more than one fixture backs up at the same time, stop running water and call a plumber, because that usually points to the main line rather than one drain.”
Bullseye Home Services, which holds Florida plumbing license CFC1431212, offers specific recommendations for homeowners. Let grease and turkey drippings cool in a can or jar and dispose of it in the trash, never down the sink. Keep stringy, fibrous or starchy waste out of the garbage disposal. Feed the disposal small amounts at a time with cold water running, and let it run a few seconds after the food is gone. Spread out showers and laundry loads while guests are staying to reduce strain on drains and the sewer line. Keep a plunger in every guest bathroom and remind guests that only toilet paper should be flushed. If several drains gurgle or back up at once, stop using water and have the main sewer line checked.
Homeowners can learn more about plumbing services from Bullseye Home Services in Osprey. The company, which also has an office in Fort Myers, provides plumbing, drain and sewer, water heater and water treatment services across Southwest Florida. For more information, visit Bullseye Home Services.
The implications for Osprey homeowners are significant: a plumbing emergency during the holiday weekend can disrupt family gatherings, cause property damage, and lead to costly repairs. By following these preventive measures, residents can reduce the risk of encountering Brown Friday firsthand and enjoy a stress-free holiday.
