As the Christmas festivities wind down, households across the UK are grappling with mountains of leftover food. While creative recipes from turkey curry to Boxing Day sandwiches are popular solutions, a leading plumbing specialist is issuing a critical warning to prevent a common and costly post-Christmas error.
The Festive Drainage Disaster
According to Ankit Sehgal, a pipe specialist and the owner of Swiftdrain, the period following Christmas Day sees a dramatic surge in emergency callouts for blocked drains. The root cause, he stresses, is not faulty plumbing but the careless disposal of festive food waste during the clean-up.
"People assume that if something is liquid or soft enough, it's safe to rinse away," Sehgal explained, in comments reported by the Express. "But Christmas food is very different from everyday cooking. It's richer, fattier and heavier, and those are exactly the things that cause blockages once they cool down inside your pipes."
Top Culprits for Clogged Pipes
Sehgal identifies turkey and ham grease as the primary offenders. When roasting trays cool, the fat solidifies. If washed down the sink, it hardens within the pipes, acting like a glue that traps other debris. This is cited as a leading reason for emergency plumbing visits after the 25th of December.
Solid food scraps present another major hazard. "Turkey bones, potato peel, onion skins and fibrous veg don't break down in water," he warned. These items can snag on pipe bends, creating a net that collects further waste. Even small pieces can lead to surprisingly stubborn blockages.
The threat isn't limited to dinner plate leftovers. Seasonal drinks like mulled wine and creamy hot chocolate or liqueurs such as Baileys also pose a risk. These beverages can contain tiny fruit fragments, spices, and sugars that leave a sticky residue, or a treacly layer that attracts other rubbish, significantly increasing the chance of a clog.
How to Prevent a Plumbing Emergency
To avoid an expensive call-out during the holidays, Sehgal recommends several simple preventative measures. One of the easiest and most effective steps is to fit a sink strainer or sieve to catch food particles before they go down the plughole.
He strongly advises scraping all plates and trays into the bin or food waste caddy instead of rinsing them in the sink. Composting suitable leftovers is also encouraged.
For homes with a waste disposal unit, Sehgal offers specific guidance: "Always run cold water, not hot. Cold water helps fats solidify so the disposal can break them up, rather than letting them smear along the pipe walls." By following this expert advice, you can enjoy the festive season without the nightmare and cost of a blocked drain.
