'Brown Friday': Why the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest one for plumbers

[underpants]

Grease
Egg shells
Potato skins
“Flushable wipes”
And in incident of guest flushing dry turkey down the toilet so as not to embarrass the hosts.

The day after Thanksgiving is said to be the busiest plumbing service day of the year. To help you avoid an emergency call, WTOP spoke with an expert for tips.

Patrick Garner, a third-generation master plumber and director of operations at Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air in Northern Virginia, said the nickname is no joke. “’Brown Friday’ is a real thing,” he said. “Who doesn’t love a good plumbing joke?”

“I am convinced whoever invented flushable wipes was a plumber, because they know that no wipes are flushable.” He added that they are not flushable and urges those who use them to “not put those down your line.”

Garner also recommends knowing where your main shut-off valve is and how to use it.

https://wtop.com/thanksgiving-news/2025/11/brown-friday-why-the-day-after-thanksgiving-is-the-busiest-one-for-plumbers/