Brown Friday: Maryland Plumbers Are Having Their Busiest Day of the Year

While shoppers storm shopping centers and scroll for deals, Maryland’s plumbers are knee-deep in a different kind of chaos. The day after Thanksgiving isn’t Black Friday in their world—it’s Brown Friday. And it’s happening right now.

Why It Matters: For Maryland homeowners who hosted big Thanksgiving gatherings yesterday, a clogged drain or backed-up toilet can turn post-holiday bliss into an expensive nightmare. Emergency plumbing calls during holidays can run two to three times the normal rate, and nobody wants to spend their holiday budget on a plumber.

What’s Happening: The phenomenon is real, according to septic and plumbing professionals across the region. Roto-Rooter, the nation’s largest plumbing chain, reports fielding about 21 percent more calls over the Thanksgiving weekend than during typical periods. Yelp data shows searches for “emergency plumbing” jumped 65 percent the day after Thanksgiving in 2023, with “clogged sink” searches spiking 58 percent after the holiday.

The Perfect Storm: A house that normally supports a small family suddenly had dozens of guests using the same bathrooms and kitchen yesterday. Marathon cooking sessions, grease-laden dishwater, and guests who weren’t as careful with what went down the drain pushed pipes to their limits. Today, those pipes are pushing back.

The Usual Suspects: The biggest culprits, according to plumbing professionals:

Turkey grease and cooking fats are guaranteed clog creators. They go down as liquid but solidify in pipes, coating them and slowing drainage. Potato peels, celery, carrot shavings, rice, and pasta can gum up garbage disposals and drains. And those “flushable” wipes? Plumbers in the D.C. region say they’re anything but—and a leading cause of holiday backups.

The Cost of Convenience: Emergency plumbing services typically run $100 to $500 per hour, with the national average around $170 per hour. Holiday emergencies hit hardest—plumbers may charge up to three times their normal rate for calls during Thanksgiving weekend. Complex repairs like main line clogs or burst pipes can run $500 to $2,000.

If You’re Already in Trouble: Know where your main shut-off valve is. It’s typically located in a mechanical room near the water heater and can stop flooding in its tracks. For minor clogs, a plunger or basic drain snake from the hardware store may do the trick. But if sewage is backing up or water is spreading, call a professional before the damage multiplies.

For Next Year: Preventive maintenance before the holiday is the smartest move. Most homeowners don’t think about their plumbing until something goes wrong—and by then, they’re paying premium holiday rates. Let guests know if you’re on a septic system. Scrape plates into the trash instead of the sink. And never pour grease down the drain.