Drain Clogs: Go with the Flow This Thanksgiving

Holiday Drain Clogs: Why They Happen and How to Keep Water Flowing This Thanksgiving

The holidays bring family, food, and memories — but they can also bring plumbing emergencies. As Boise homeowners prepare for Thanksgiving, our team at Plumbing Solutions of Idaho always gears up for the season’s surge in service calls. Between cooking feasts, hosting houseguests, and washing countless dishes, your plumbing system works harder than at any other time of year.

And when that extra strain meets kitchen grease, food scraps, or long showers, clogs become almost inevitable. The good news? Most of these problems are preventable with the right care — and if one sneaks up on you, we’re just a phone call away.

The Thanksgiving Effect on Your Drain Clogs

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving ranks among the busiest times for plumbers nationwide. With kitchens running nonstop and bathrooms seeing extra traffic, drains often can’t keep up. We call it the “Thanksgiving Effect” — when heavy use meets poor drain habits.

Grease poured down the sink, rice and potato peels stuffed into garbage disposals, and showers used back-to-back can push plumbing systems past their limit. Even a small clog that went unnoticed during summer can turn into a full blockage once the workload spikes.

At Plumbing Solutions of Idaho, we’ve seen it all: slow kitchen sinks, gurgling toilets, backed-up tubs, and main line blockages that send wastewater where it doesn’t belong. The causes vary, but the outcome is the same — frustration right when you’re trying to enjoy time with family.

Common Causes of Holiday Drain Clogs

Common clogs form when materials build up inside drainpipes until water can’t flow freely. Some of the most frequent culprits during the holidays include:

1. Grease and Fat
Cooking oil, gravy, and melted butter might seem harmless when warm, but they solidify as they cool. Once they coat your drainpipes, they trap food particles and grow into thick blockages.

2. Food Waste
Even if you have a garbage disposal, not everything belongs in it. Starchy foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, and rice expand with moisture, creating paste-like clogs. Stringy foods like celery or turkey skin wrap around disposal blades and stop them cold.

3. Coffee Grounds and Eggshells
Both seem small but can clump together, forming heavy, gritty blockages in pipes. Coffee grounds also absorb water, swelling as they sit.

4. Soap Scum and Hair
In bathrooms, soap binds with minerals in hard water to create a sticky residue. Add hair to the mix, and you’ve got a perfect clog recipe.

5. “Flushable” Wipes and Hygiene Products
Despite the label, most wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper. They collect in bends and junctions, especially in older plumbing systems, leading to backups.

6. Tree Roots and Main Line Intrusion
Outside, tree roots seek moisture and can enter small cracks in main sewer lines. Once inside, they spread like a net, catching debris and blocking flow.

Why DIY Fixes Often Make Drain Clogs Worse

When drains slow down, the first instinct is to grab a plunger or pour in chemical cleaner. Unfortunately, that can turn a minor clog into a bigger problem.

Chemical drain cleaners can eat away at old pipes, corrode fittings, and create toxic fumes in poorly ventilated spaces. Store-bought snakes may scratch porcelain fixtures or puncture pipes if used incorrectly.

We’ve also seen homeowners mix boiling water and vinegar hoping for a quick fix — only to discover that they’ve hardened the grease deeper in the pipe.

Professional equipment solves these issues safely. Our plumbers use precision augers, hydro-jetting systems, and camera inspections to locate and clear blockages without damaging your plumbing.

How We Diagnose and Clear Drain Clogs

At Plumbing Solutions of Idaho, we start by identifying the cause and location of the clog. A slow drain in one sink often means a localized issue. If multiple drains back up, it may indicate a main line obstruction.

We use video inspection tools to look directly inside your pipes. This allows us to see whether the blockage comes from grease, roots, or foreign objects — and determine the best method for removal.

• Hydro-Jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the inside of pipes, blasting away grease, scale, and buildup. It’s safe for most plumbing systems and restores pipes to near-new condition.
• Mechanical Snakes break apart solid obstructions in small or delicate lines, especially in older homes where hydro-jetting may be too aggressive.
• Bio-Enzyme Maintenance Treatments (applied after cleaning) help keep drains clear by breaking down organic residue over time. These eco-friendly solutions maintain flow without the harsh chemicals that can harm pipes.

Preventing Holiday Drain Clogs

A few simple habits can protect your plumbing system long after the holidays:

• Keep Grease Out of the Sink. Pour leftover fat or oil into a container and throw it away once cooled.
• Use Sink Strainers. They catch food scraps before they enter your pipes.
• Run Cold Water with the Disposal. Cold water helps solidify grease so blades can chop it instead of spreading it through pipes.
• Educate Guests. Remind visitors what can and cannot go down toilets or sinks.
• Stagger Showers. Give drains a few minutes between uses so pipes can clear.
• Schedule Preventive Cleaning. Having us perform a professional drain cleaning once a year keeps small buildups from turning into blockages.

We recommend scheduling this service before hosting large gatherings — especially if your home has older pipes or a history of slow drains.

Signs You’re Headed for a Drain Clogs  

Don’t wait for standing water to realize there’s a problem. Warning signs include:

• Gurgling noises from drains or toilets
• Water backing up into sinks or tubs
• Foul odors coming from drains
• Slow draining even after plunging
• Wet patches or soft spots in your yard (possible main line issue)

If you notice any of these, call us right away. Catching the problem early prevents messy overflows and costly damage.

Why Choose Plumbing Solutions of Idaho

Our team has been helping homeowners across the Treasure Valley through many holiday seasons. We understand the unique plumbing challenges Idaho homes face — from mineral-heavy water to aging infrastructure. Every plumber on our staff is trained, certified, and equipped to diagnose and clear drains quickly and safely.

We don’t rely on guesswork. We combine decades of hands-on experience with state-of-the-art inspection tools to make sure every drain flows freely before we leave your home. And because we’re local, we treat every customer like a neighbor, not a number.

When your kitchen sink gurgles, your shower drains slowly, or your toilet threatens to overflow, skip the store-bought fixes. Call the experts who clear clogs for good.

This Thanksgiving, let the only thing overflowing in your home be gratitude — not your drains.

About Plumbing Solutions of Idaho in Meridian, Idaho

Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is a trusted, full-service plumbing company proudly serving Meridian, Boise, and communities across the Treasure Valley. Whether you need a skilled Boise plumber to fix toilets, clear drains, repair water heaters, or handle full repipes, our team is equipped to deliver prompt, professional service. As your go-to source for expert plumbing in Idaho, we offer dependable solutions for both residential and commercial properties. With a commitment to quality work and local integrity, Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is the name to call when you need reliable plumbing in Boise and throughout Southern Idaho.