Most house chores depend on water, meaning your drainage system must function correctly. When dirt and grime build up on your pipes, your drains may get clogged, resulting in drainage problems. Once you notice some malfunctions with your system, you should act fast.
Failure to take action quickly may result in a more significant problem like the pipes bursting and flooding your home. On the other hand, you don’t want to deal with toilet backflow that results in a total mess.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) on blocked drainage systems and the corresponding answers:
When Should You Hire A Plumber To Unblock The Drains?
Once you detect drainage blockage and are unsure how to go about it, it’s best to hire professionals that can help with drain issues. They’re best placed to handle the technical problems beyond your expertise. A qualified plumber should be able to identify all existing issues in your drainage system and rectify them before the damage is too extensive. For homeowners in York County, seeking to proactively maintain the health and functionality of their drain systems, investing in Sewer & Drain Preventative Maintenance in York County, ME, can prove invaluable. Through thorough inspections, cleaning, and maintenance procedures, these specialists can help prevent costly repairs and prolong the lifespan of the drain system, ultimately providing homeowners with peace of mind and uninterrupted drainage functionality.
Additionally, your plumber will craft a long-lasting solution to your drainage problems, so you don’t have to repair it now and then. They can do this without causing further damage to the system or the pipes. They’ll also advise on whether the system needs to be replaced to avoid future problems.
Can You Tell If Your Drains Are Blocked?
- You can tell if your drainage system has developed some problems by inspecting the toilet, kitchen, and wash areas for the following tell-tale signs:
- Stinky sewage smell on your draining point
- Slow drainage, resulting in a pool of water around the entry points
- Toilet overflow
- Unusual sounds from the drainage pipes
What Causes The Drains To Block?
Most drainage blockage problems can be prevented. If you aren’t careful about what goes into the toilet and kitchen sinks, you’ll experience some clogging. Eventually, the drains will get blocked. Here are the usual culprits of blocked drains in your house:
- Tissue build-up
- Food remains
- Hair
- Mineral build-up
- Cat litter
- Oil or grease
- Cotton swabs
- Leaves
- Toiletries like sanitary towels, baby wipes, or diapers
- Tiny objects
Make sure none of this goes down the drain. There are better ways to discard them rather than flushing them in the toilet.
Why Does The Drain Produce A Gurgling Sound?
It’s commonplace to hear strange sounds coming from your drain once in a while. That’s a sure sign of blockage. It’s usually a result of water struggling to push through the pipes amidst pockets of trapped air.
Therefore, you should ensure that your bathroom drains and pipes have no soap scum or grime. In an attempt to escape or go down your pipes, the air bubbles make the ugly gurgling sound.
Immediately you notice that the drains are making the sound, you should call your plumber for a check-up. You’ll avoid a backflow, which may flood your home with waste.
How Often Should You Clean Your Drains?
It’d be best to clean your drains regularly to stop dirt build-up. A thorough weekly cleaning suffices for most homes. Clean drainage pipes have a lesser chance of developing issues.
First, use bleach tested by home care experts to clean the drains. They help you rinse out dirt or give a push to the tiny objects that could have accidentally gotten into the pipes. Additionally, pouring hot soapy water into your sinks melts oils and fats stuck onto the pipes.
Another maintenance hack is to pour bicarbonate soda and vinegar into your sink. After 10 minutes, rinse it with hot water. If you repeat this budget-friendly maintenance cleaning hack in your cleaning routine, you’ll stay clear of drain-related issues.
Can You Unblock The Drains By Yourself?
Several do-it-yourself (DIY) plumbing tricks, such as the drain snake, assist homeowners in unblocking or unclogging their drains. However, the magnitude or cause of the blockage problem determines whether you can proceed with DIY plumbing.
Occasionally using a coat hanger, you may manage to clear the drain. Create a hole that paves the way for the water to go through the pipes. This might hold for a few days, but perhaps with time, it will clog again. Enlisting professional help guarantees long-lasting results.
What Hacks Do Plumbers Use To Unblock Drains?
Like every other worker, the plumbers, too, have their work tools. At times the DIY procedures don’t get things done. In such a case, advanced plumbing tools come in handy to save the situation. You can buy most of the tools from your nearby hardware store. Such tools include:
- Plunger
- Draining cables
- Motor-built drain snakes
- Water hydro jet
You likely may not have all these tools, but your plumber will have them. Again, their expertise comes in handy on the best tools for specific drainage systems and blockage extent.
Do Tree Roots Affect The Drainage System?
If your compound has trees with overgrown or deep roots, they could threaten your drainage system. Since your drainage is dug underground, the overgrown roots may burst the drainage pipes resulting in a complete disaster. Tree roots can also grow into the pipes and impede the proper flow of waste. To counter this, you could tame the roots adjacent to your utility lines or fell the whole trees.
Can You Avoid Blocking Your Drains?
The short answer is yes. First, ensure that all objects that can block the drains don’t get into your sinks and toilet. It’s also an excellent practice to scrape the leftovers in a bin before placing your plates in the sink for washing. Alternatively, use a plug hole strainer to prevent kitchen debris from getting washed into your drain.
How Can You Tell If The Plumber Is Qualified?
Contacting reliable and qualified personnel is a sure way to fix all drainage problems. Better yet, you can contact a plumbing firm. If you work with a quack, you’ll not fall short of inconveniences from their plumbing services. To stay clear from such, ensure your plumber has the following:
- A valid plumbing license
- An insurance cover
- Experience in handling broken drainages
- Good customer service
- Friendly pricing
Conclusion
This Australia’s ultimate FAQ on blocked drains should guide you into solving most drainage problems. Essentially, avoid inappropriate flushing objects down the drain and clean it regularly. If you do this and still experience problems, seek help from a qualified and reliable plumber. It’s a more guaranteed approach to fixing drainage issues rather than doing it yourself.
