The Kitchen is Working Overtime — Here’s What Not to Do This Holiday Season
Hosting during the holidays turns your kitchen into the heart of your home — it’s where the cooking happens, where family gathers, and where the dishwasher never seems to stop running. But with all that activity, your plumbing works harder than it does during any other season. That’s why the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are some of the busiest times of the year for plumbing emergencies.
To keep your home running smoothly, here are seven kitchen plumbing mistakes that can turn holiday cheer into unexpected chaos — and what to do instead.
1. Pouring Grease Down the Drain
Grease from turkey, bacon, or butter hardens as it cools, sticking to the inside of your pipes and creating thick, stubborn blockages. Even if it seems liquid when it leaves the pan, it quickly becomes a solid wall inside your plumbing.
2. Overloading the Garbage Disposal
The disposal is a great tool, but it has limits. Holiday meals often include foods that can jam or dull the blades, including:
- Celery and fibrous veggies
- Potato skins
- Bones
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
When too much goes in at once, or the wrong thing slips through, the disposal can easily overheat or clog.
3. Washing Starchy Foods Down the Drain
Pasta, rice, stuffing, and mashed potatoes expand when wet — especially when mixed with hot water. In your pipes, they turn into a sticky paste that’s notorious for trapping other food scraps.
4. Running the Sink and Dishwasher at the Same Time
Both appliances usually share the same drain line. When you run them together, you push a large volume of water into a single pipe, which can cause:
- Slow drainage
- Gurgling noises
- Sink backups
If your drain is already partially clogged, running both at once is almost guaranteed to reveal it.
5. Ignoring Slow Drains Before Hosting
A sink that’s been “a little slow” for a few months will become a major problem the moment you start prepping a big meal. The holidays magnify minor issues — and slow drains often signal buildup that needs professional cleaning.
6. Letting Guests Toss Whatever They Want Into the Sink
Most plumbing problems during the holidays happen accidentally — someone helping with cleanup tosses something into the disposal that shouldn’t go there. Even helpful guests don’t know your kitchen’s limits.
7. Pushing Your Garbage Disposal Too Hard
Running the disposal without enough water, forcing large chunks into the drain, or using it as the “catch-all” cleanup tool can quickly burn out the motor. Once it’s jammed or overheated, your holiday cooking hits an immediate standstill.
When to Call a Professional
Holiday plumbing issues escalate quickly — especially when you’re trying to cook, clean, and host guests all at once. If you notice slow drains, backups, strange noises, or a jammed garbage disposal, it’s best to call a licensed plumber before the problem gets worse.
JB Plumbing HVAC & Construction 610-621-3452 provides fast, reliable kitchen plumbing service so you can enjoy the season without stress.
