The holiday season is quickly approaching, and Cartersville residents are getting ready for one of the area’s most exciting seasonal events – the Holiday Market at LakePoint. But before families head out to shop and celebrate, there’s another important date on every plumber’s calendar: Brown Friday – the day after Thanksgiving, when plumbing emergencies spike dramatically across the country.
Brown Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – is the busiest day of the year for plumbers across the country. While shoppers in Cartersville are lining up for Black Friday deals and families are heading to the Holiday Market at LakePoint, plumbers are racing from house to house dealing with clogged drains, backed-up toilets, and overworked garbage disposals.
For homeowners in Cartersville, GA, Brown Friday doesn’t have to turn into a plumbing nightmare. With a little preparation and help from a trusted local plumber like Thompson Plumbing, you can enjoy the long weekend, host guests, and keep your home running smoothly.
What Is “Brown Friday” – And Why Is It So Busy for Plumbers?
Brown Friday is the nickname plumbers use for the day after Thanksgiving, when call volume for clogged drains, overflowing toilets, and sewer backups skyrockets.
In Cartersville, that often means:
- Kitchen sinks overwhelmed by heavy holiday cooking
- Garbage disposals jammed or burned out
- Toilets and main sewer lines stressed by extra guests
- Older plumbing systems near downtown or historic homes backing up under the strain
Between turkey grease, potato peels, food scraps, and more frequent bathroom use, your plumbing system is pushed harder on Thanksgiving weekend than almost any other time of year.
Why Cartersville Homes Are Especially Vulnerable Around the Holidays
Cartersville has a mix of historic houses near downtown Cartersville, growing neighborhoods near LakePoint Sports, and family homes stretching toward Grassdale Road, Tennessee Street, and the Etowah River. Many of these properties have:
- Older pipes with years of buildup
- Tree roots in sewer lines (especially near mature trees common in established neighborhoods)
- Original plumbing that was never designed for large holiday crowds
Add a big Thanksgiving dinner, guests staying after visiting places like the Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, or Etowah Indian Mounds, and your pipes may be working overtime.
That’s why Thompson Plumbing sees a major spike in calls from Cartersville and surrounding Bartow County neighborhoods on Brown Friday.
Top Brown Friday Disasters Thompson Plumbing Sees in Cartersville
Here are some of the most common emergency calls local homeowners make on Brown Friday:
1. Clogged Kitchen Sinks and Backed-Up Drains
Thanksgiving cooking often sends the wrong things down the drain, especially when everyone is rushing to clean up. Even if you live in a newer subdivision near LakePoint or off US-41, modern plumbing is still no match for certain materials.
Big culprits include:
- Turkey or bacon grease
- Oil from frying or roasting
- Potato peels, carrot peels, and fibrous veggies
- Rice, pasta, and stuffing that swell with water
- Coffee grounds and eggshells
These items can quickly create a thick, sticky blockage in your kitchen drain or deeper in your home’s plumbing system.
2. Overworked or Burned-Out Garbage Disposals
Many Brown Friday calls in Cartersville start with, “The garbage disposal just stopped working.” Disposals are not built to handle:
- Bones
- Large amounts of peels or stringy vegetables
- Big loads of leftovers all at once
When someone forces too much in, the motor can jam or fail, leading to standing water and a sink full of food waste just when you hoped to relax.
3. Toilet Backups and Main Sewer Line Problems
With relatives in town visiting local holiday events and staying the weekend, toilets are used more frequently, and some guests may flush things they shouldn’t.
Common issues include:
- Toilets that won’t flush or keep backing up
- Gurgling drains
- Sewage odors in bathrooms, basements, or yards
- Multiple drains backing up at once
These can be signs of a main sewer line clog, especially in older homes near downtown or tree-lined lots off West Avenue, Cassville Road, or MLK Jr. Drive.
How Cartersville Homeowners Can Avoid Brown Friday Plumbing Problems
A little prevention goes a long way. Before you head out to the Holiday Market at LakePoint or downtown Cartersville’s holiday events, take a few smart steps to protect your plumbing.
1. Know What Should Never Go Down the Kitchen Sink
Even if you have a garbage disposal, treat it gently. Avoid putting these items down the drain:
- Fats, oils, and grease of any kind
- Bones (chicken, turkey, or ham)
- Fibrous vegetables (celery, onion skins, corn husks)
- Large amounts of peels or leftover food
- Rice, pasta, and bread that expand
Instead, scrape food scraps into the trash and pour cooled grease into a disposable container.
2. Run Water the Right Way When Using the Disposal
If you must use your garbage disposal:
- Run cold water before, during, and after using it
- Feed food scraps in small amounts, not all at once
- Let the disposal run a few extra seconds after the noise stops to clear the line
These simple habits can prevent clogs and protect your disposal motor.
3. Prep Your Bathrooms for Extra Guests
With visitors coming from all over Bartow County, make sure your bathrooms are ready:
- Place a small trash can in every bathroom so guests don’t flush wipes, feminine products, or paper towels
- Check for slow-flushing toilets or gurgling sounds before Thanksgiving – they can be early warning signs
- If you already notice slow drains, consider having a professional drain cleaning done ahead of the holiday rush
4. Schedule Preventive Drain Cleaning Before the Holiday Weekend
If your Cartersville home has:
- A history of clogs
- An older sewer line
- Large family gatherings planned
It is wise to schedule preventive drain or sewer cleaning before Thanksgiving. Thompson Plumbing can inspect your lines, clear buildup, and help you avoid an untimely backup on Brown Friday.
When to Call a Plumber Immediately on Brown Friday
Not every small inconvenience needs an emergency visit, but there are times when waiting can cause bigger damage.
Call a professional plumber right away if:
- Multiple fixtures (toilet, tub, and sink) are backing up at the same time
- You smell sewage inside your home or in your yard
- A toilet overflows repeatedly despite plunging
- Water appears around floor drains or in your basement
- You hear gurgling when you use another fixture (for example, the toilet gurgles when the washing machine drains)
These are signs of a serious obstruction that needs expert attention.
Why Cartersville Homeowners Trust Thompson Plumbing for Brown Friday Emergencies
Thompson Plumbing is a local Cartersville plumbing company, not a distant franchise. That matters on Brown Friday, when you need someone who:
- Knows Cartersville neighborhoods and older infrastructure
- Understands the common issues in Bartow County homes
- Can provide friendly, professional service during a stressful moment
From homes near Downtown Cartersville and Dellinger Park to properties closer to Lake Allatoona and the LakePoint area, Thompson Plumbing helps local families keep their plumbing systems working – even on the busiest plumbing day of the year.
Common Brown Friday services include:
- Emergency clogged drain and sewer line clearing
- Kitchen sink and garbage disposal repairs
- Toilet repairs and replacements
- Water heater troubleshooting (for when all those holiday showers push your system too far)
Get Ahead of Brown Friday – Or Get Help Fast If You Need It
If you want a smooth, stress-free Thanksgiving weekend in Cartersville:
- Practice smart kitchen habits
- Protect your toilets and drains from misuse
- Consider scheduling preventive maintenance before guests arrive
But if Brown Friday sneaks up on you and a drain backs up, the disposal dies, or a toilet overflows, help is close by.
Call to Action: Keep Your Cartersville Home Flowing with Thompson Plumbing
Whether you live near downtown Cartersville, close to LakePoint, or anywhere across Bartow County, Thompson Plumbing is ready to help you prevent – or solve – Brown Friday plumbing problems.
For fast, professional service:
- Contact Thompson Plumbing at the first sign of a clog or backup
- Ask about pre-holiday drain cleaning to protect your home
- Schedule a convenient appointment so your home is ready for guests and holiday events
Don’t let Brown Friday ruin your long weekend. Reach out to Thompson Plumbing in Cartersville, GA today and keep your home’s plumbing flowing smoothly all season long.
