When Turkey Day Turns Into Plumbing Disaster: The Holiday Emergency That Strikes 1 in 4 Massachusetts Homes

Every year, as Massachusetts families gather around dinner tables laden with turkey, stuffing, and all the traditional fixings, a hidden crisis is brewing in homes across the Commonwealth. Thanksgiving is known as one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers, with the day after Thanksgiving—dubbed “Brown Friday” by industry professionals—consistently ranking as the single busiest day for emergency plumbing calls.

The statistics paint a sobering picture for Bay State homeowners. According to home repair experts, calls to plumbers increase by 25% the week of Thanksgiving, and 14% the week after. Even more alarming, 26% of respondents reported experiencing plumbing issues after hosting a Thanksgiving meal. Recent data from Yelp reveals the true scope of this annual crisis: searches for “emergency plumbing” surged 65% during the 2023 Brown Friday time period, with some cities seeing dramatic spikes in specific service requests—Los Angeles alone experienced a 400% increase in “plumbing repair” searches and a 300% increase in “affordable plumbing” searches.

Why Thanksgiving Week Creates the Perfect Storm for Plumbing Disasters

The convergence of several factors during Thanksgiving week creates an unprecedented strain on Massachusetts plumbing systems. Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can put a real strain on your plumbing system, but the reasons go deeper than just increased usage.

As Paul Abrams, a spokesman for Roto-Rooter explains, “Often, the case is that a house already has partially clogged drains that go unnoticed until holiday guests arrive and overwhelm the system. Even more problematic is that virtually every traditional Thanksgiving dish is a drain-clogging culprit.”

The holiday cooking process introduces multiple hazards to home plumbing systems. Some of the tastiest elements of Thanksgiving dinner—think turkey, gravy, and bacon crumbles—leave your pots and pans covered in grease. When this grease goes down kitchen drains, it solidifies in pipes, creating blockages that can cause major backups.

Guest traffic adds another layer of complexity. “People are just using everything more. Maybe they’ll use one bathroom in their house typically, and they’re using two or three when the whole family shows up, or they’ve just got so much cooking going on that they are overdoing it in the kitchen and that can result in problems.”

The Most Common Holiday Plumbing Emergencies

Massachusetts plumbers report a predictable pattern of emergency calls during Thanksgiving week. Plumbing professionals receive many service requests for clogged drains, garbage disposal issues, and clogged sewer lines.

Kitchen-related emergencies dominate the call logs. Throwing large quantities of food waste into the drain will overwhelm your kitchen plumbing system, causing a clog. Garbage disposals, in particular, suffer during the holiday season when homeowners attempt to process food waste that you shouldn’t put in the garbage disposal, like potato peels, fruit pits, and poultry skin and bones.

Bathroom emergencies spike as well. Guests might flush items you ordinarily would not, and makeup wipes, baby wipes, cotton balls, and cotton swabs all get stuck in sewer systems more often during the holidays.

The Financial Impact of Holiday Plumbing Emergencies

When plumbing disasters strike during the holidays, Massachusetts homeowners face not only the inconvenience but also significant financial costs. Emergency plumbers charge a significantly higher rate than regular plumbers, usually 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate. Most emergency plumbers will cost you $100 to $500 per hour, with an average of $170 per hour.

Holiday surcharges make emergency calls even more expensive. Local plumbers charge anywhere from one-and-a-half to three times their regular hourly rate for an emergency visit, plus additional fees. Expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour in addition to a flat-rate emergency trip fee of $100 to $350.

Prevention: Your Best Defense Against Holiday Plumbing Disasters

The key to avoiding becoming part of Massachusetts’ Thanksgiving plumbing statistics lies in prevention. If you’ve noticed that your bathroom sink is draining slowly or your kitchen faucet is dripping, don’t wait until Thanksgiving to address the issue. Hire a professional plumber to inspect your systems for clogs or other problems and resolve them before your guests arrive. That way, you can rest assured that your plumbing system can handle the holiday traffic.

Smart kitchen practices can prevent most holiday emergencies:

• Throw the leftovers in the garbage or into a compost pile instead of down the drain
• Turn the disposal on before you toss food into it. Then, turn on the faucet to allow the drain to fill with water before piling in the food waste. After you turn off the garbage disposal, keep the water running for a few extra seconds
• Since your dishwasher and your garbage disposal share a drain, running both at the same time could result in food scraps mixing into your dish wash cycle. To keep your kitchen drain system running smoothly, wait to start a load of dishes until you’re finished using the garbage disposal

When You Need Emergency Help: Finding Reliable Service

Despite best prevention efforts, plumbing emergencies can still occur. When they do, Massachusetts residents need access to reliable, professional emergency plumbing services. If you find yourself searching for a 24 hour plumber near me during the holiday crisis, it’s crucial to choose a company with the experience and availability to handle urgent situations.

Dempsey Energy, a family-owned company serving Massachusetts for over 30 years, understands the unique challenges that Thanksgiving week brings to local homeowners. For over 30 years, families across Massachusetts have trusted us to keep their homes running efficiently and comfortably. With fast, same-day repairs, fully stocked trucks, and 24/7 emergency services, we’re here when you need us most—ensuring your home stays safe, comfortable, and stress-free.

Based in North Attleboro, Dempsey Energy originally served only the South Shore, but with continued expansion, now offers HVAC and plumbing services across a large section of Southeastern Mass all the way to the Greater Boston Area. The company’s core values reflect their commitment to Massachusetts families: Trust is the foundation of our business. We uphold the highest ethical standards, providing transparent pricing, honest recommendations, and a commitment to doing what’s right—every time. You can count on us to show up when we say we will, prepared to deliver high-quality solutions. Our dependable team works hard to ensure your home’s comfort and safety without compromise.

Preparing for Future Holidays

The best time to prepare for next year’s Thanksgiving is now. To prevent plumbing issues that can’t wait for a fix, there are several maintenance practices that can help keep you from getting caught off guard. Some plumbing emergencies can be difficult to notice, but in many cases, you can catch them early by monitoring your water pressure and temperature.

Regular maintenance and professional inspections can identify potential problems before they become holiday disasters. If you’re a homeowner, it’s generally recommended to have your pipes checked at least once a year.

This Thanksgiving, don’t let your family gathering become another statistic in Massachusetts’ annual plumbing crisis. By taking preventive measures, practicing smart kitchen habits, and knowing where to turn for reliable emergency service, you can keep your focus where it belongs—on gratitude, family, and the joy of the season.