With Thanksgiving approaching, Roto-Rooter is preparing for its busiest time of the year, as service calls surge 50% above average on Black Friday. The industry-wide phenomenon, dubbed "Brown Friday" by plumbers, overwhelms drains nationwide as turkey grease, starchy sides, and additional guests create perfect storm conditions for clogs and backups. Paul Abrams, spokesman for Roto-Rooter, warns that many homeowners have partially compromised drains that fail under the holiday rush. He 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% surge in service requests. 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 laundry loads, and tree root intrusion in main sewer lines that becomes problematic with increased drain volume. A holiday sewage backup can spoil family celebrations, making proactive measures crucial.
Roto-Rooter's 7,000 service technicians nationwide are working through the holiday weekend, including Thanksgiving Day, to handle emergency calls. The company encourages homeowners to schedule preventative sewer or drain cleaning now to avoid the rush. Customers can book services through November at rotorooter.com or by calling 1-800-GET-ROTO. Many branches offer pre-Thanksgiving maintenance packages to help prevent disasters. For emergency situations, Roto-Rooter guarantees rapid response and no surprise service fees.
As part of its community commitment, Roto-Rooter is celebrating its seventh annual Giving Thanks Food Drive throughout November. Customers can save $55 by donating a non-perishable item through participating branch offices or at rotorooter.com/fooddrive. Homeowners are urged to schedule preventative drain cleaning, get emergency 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.
