PORTLAND, Ore. - The day after Thanksgiving is not just a big shopping day, it's also a busy day for plumbers – who call it "Black Friday" because of what we stuff down the drain.
 
Their business usually spikes 60 percent on Friday because so many of us make mistakes in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. The biggest problem is people pouring grease down the drain.

"Sure it's liquid when you pour it down there, but when it cools down it's gonna harden up," said Dave Bailey, a Roto-Rooter plumber.

That makes your pipes look like a clogged artery. Add vegetable peels to the mix, and your kitchen sink can end up having a heart attack.

If the clog is just under the sink, consider yourself lucky. If it makes it to the street, the city of Portland could find you and fine you.

"The property owners can be responsible for that portion of the sewer that's on their property, and those bills can add up very quickly," said Mark Mitchell, a city of Portland official.

In fact, the problem is so bad in some areas that the city has designated them as special "Grease Management Areas." These are places where the city has incurred excessive maintenance costs from sewer releases caused by grease and where backups caused by grease have resulted in health risks and property damage and even environmental risks.

To see if your house is located in one of those areas click the neighborhood links below:

• GATEWAY
• HAYDEN ISLAND
• OUTER HALSEY
• MALL 205

So what can you do?

It's simple. Let that grease harden, scrape it up and put it in a can. Also, toss food in the trash.

Remember:

• That garbage disposal is not an endless black hole.
• Always make sure the disposal is running when you put food in it.
• Run cold water for 15 seconds before and after you use it.
• Don't put anything in the drain if you don't have a disposal

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