Most of us have encountered the frustrations of a blocked drain, from foul odors to sluggish drainage and high water levels.
One thing is certain: you must address the situation as soon as possible in order to avoid it from worsening. A blocked drain, in fact, should not be taken lightly because it can cause further and more expensive damage to the pipes and the drain itself.
The following are some of the most typical symptoms of drainage problems.
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Signs of a Blocked Drain
It is critical to respond swiftly if you observe one or more of these warning symptoms.
Disgusting Smell
Nobody enjoys smelling bad odours. Food waste and other residue get stuck in drains and cause them to become clogged. This will begin to disintegrate over time. Needless to say, the stench that this would produce will not be nice. So, if you start smelling such things every time you turn on the tap, your drain is most likely blocked.
Slow Draining Water
Another telltale indicator that your drain is clogged is if the water in your sink, bath, shower or toilet starts to drain slowly. When a blockage is particularly severe, it may not flow out at all and start to back up and overflow. You certainly do not want to find yourself dealing with this problem!
Slow draining water can be a problem with only one fixture in some circumstances.
If that is the case, the blockage is almost certainly limited to a pipe linked to that particular fixture. If, on the other hand, all of your fixtures are slow to drain, the issue is almost certainly a sewer drain obstruction. Check any external drains or manhole covers to see if there are any signs of rising water there as well.
Gurgling Sounds
As well as the bad smell, you may hear gurgling sounds emanating from your pipes and fixtures in some situations where your drain is blocked. Typically, these sounds occur when the air becomes trapped in the pipes as a result of a blockage. As a result, whenever water tries to flow through, odd noises are produced Because some of the blockages may be moved and pushed through, the gurgling may be louder than usual.
Overflowing
When you flush the toilet, the water rises higher than usual, which is the most prevalent symptom that there is a blockage. In some situations, the water may rise to the point of overflowing.
What Should You Do If You Notice Any Of These Things?
Some blockages are more serious than you might imagine, in which case, a qualified plumber can help.
A professional will know how to do it and will have more specialist equipment to clear drains of major clogs and debris.
While a clogged drain is certainly unpleasant, you can usually solve it quite fast if you address it as soon as you see any warning symptoms. If you wait for the obstruction to worsen, more significant problems will arise. Furthermore, it is strongly advised that you take preemptive precautions to stop blockages from forming. This can be accomplished by not dumping grease or allowing little food particles to fall down the drain.
