2 NC cities slide onto Yelp’s ‘most clogged cities’ list. Check the dump
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Yelp analysis found Charlotte and Raleigh among top clogged cities after Thanksgiving.
- Searches for emergency plumbers and backed-up toilets rose about 6% in both cities.
- Yelp recommends pre-holiday checks and disposal care to prevent costly clogs.
Charlotte and Raleigh have plunged to new lows.
According to Yelp, both cities rank among the nation’s most clogged cities during the dreaded post-Thanksgiving plumbing surge, cheekily dubbed “Brown Friday,” with Charlotte coming in at No. 16 and Raleigh at No. 19.
“Brown Friday is always our busiest day of the year, and with last year being busier than the year before, all signs point to even more calls this year,” Josh Campbell, founder and president of Rescue Air & Plumbing in Dallas, told Yelp. “With more families cooking at home, increased use of disposable wipes [which can clog pipes], and bigger gatherings putting extra stress on aging pipes, systems are pushed to their limits.
Yelp found that searches for emergency plumbers, leaky faucets and backed-up toilets skyrocket right after Thanksgiving. Charlotte saw about a 6% bump in plumbing panic searches, while Raleigh matched that stuck‑pipe surge.
America’s most clogged cities
These are America’s 20 most “clogged cities,” according to Yelp:
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Dallas, Texas
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Miami, Florida
- Los Angeles, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- San Jose, California
- Austin, Texas
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Fresno, California
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- San Diego, California
- San Francisco, California
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- New York, New York
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Washington, DC
How to avoid plumbing issues on Brown Friday
You can use these tips from Yelp to avoid plumbing issues on Brown Friday:
- Schedule a pre-holiday plumbing check: Have a plumber inspect your system before guests arrive to catch hidden issues and avoid costly emergency rates.
- Keep scraps out of the drain: Use a mesh strainer and avoid putting starchy foods, grease, gravy or stuffing down the garbage disposal, as these can cause blockages.
- Maintain pipes and disposal: Sharpen disposal blades with ice, clean with dish soap, and run hot, soapy water weekly to prevent buildup.
- Watch for red flags: Bubbling water, multiple running toilets or high water pressure may signal serious issues; a $10 gauge can help you check PSI.
How did Yelp come up with its findings?
Yelp analyzed plumbing-related search trends around Thanksgiving 2024 by comparing the two weeks before to Thanksgiving Day and the two weeks after. They measured how often these searches occurred per million queries and ranked U.S. cities by the percentage increase in plumbing-related searches during this “Brown Friday” period to identify the most clogged cities.
Best of NC on Yelp
Recent Yelp articles highlighted more North Carolina cities (but not for plumbing issues):
- Of Yelp’s Top 100 Date Night Restaurants in the United States, five are in North Carolina.
- Three North Carolina restaurants ranked among the best in the country.
- Yelp ranked a Charlotte bakery among the top 50 doughnut spots in the United States.
- Two North Carolina restaurants had among the best fried chicken in the country, Yelp said.
