One minute, everything is nice and dry. The next thing you know, you are ankle-deep in murky water. The culprit? A clogged drain. A clogged drain is a nuisance that can potentially cause health hazards. If you are asking if there are ways to detect a clogged drain before a plumbing emergency, there are. Below we present the seven signs of a clogged drain.
1. FUNKY ODORS FROM THE DRAINS
A foul odor emanating from your drains is a straightforward sign of a clogged drain. The perpetual funky odor from the drains is usually a result of trapped sewer water in the pipes. The clog may be because of hair, food particle buildup from the kitchen garbage disposal, or a rodent stuck in your pipes. Consult a specialist from The Otter Guys to unclog your sewer line and eliminate the dangerous foul odors.
2. SLOW DRAINAGE
Unusually slow draining is a sign of a clogged drain, especially at that point. You need to call in a professional plumber if you notice slow draining in the sink, bathtub, or toilet. Slow drainage worsens over time, and sewer water may stop flowing altogether.
3. WATER BACKING UP
Flushing or draining water down one outlet that causes water backing up in a different faucet is a sign of a clogged drain. Drains are meant to drain the water into the sewer line, never back up. If water backups, you need to call a plumber since the dirty backed-up water immediately has bacteria that cause a host of health issues, from cholera to typhoid. The CDC records 4–32 million gastrointestinal diseases yearly caused by contaminated non-drinking water.
4. GURLGING AND STRANGE SOUNDS IN THE DRAINS
If your drains make bubbling or gurgling sounds when you run a faucet, it is the air bubbles forming at the clog. If you hear strange sounds other than gurgling, it is not the sewer monster but a warning sign of an impending sewer line disaster.
5. TOO MUCH WATER IN THE TOILET BOWL
The toilet has a direct link to the sewer line. Too much water in the bowl means a clog in the drain lines. Backing up water in the toilet signifies a clogged drain.
6. FRUIT OR DRAIN FLIES AROUND THE DRAINS
Food particle buildup in the drains attracts drain flies and pests like cockroaches around the drain outlets and sewer lines. To prevent the major infestation of pests, consider unclogging your drain. But if you don’t know how to, you can call a certified plumber in Charlottesville to unclog it properly and prevent future drain problems.
7. BULGING PIPES
Swells in your piping system at different sections in your home indicate multiple clogs. Clogging in the pipes blocks the sewer water meaning water buildup occurs at the spot and exerts pressure on the pipes. Call a plumber to avoid the pipes bursting and causing a mess.
Now you know how to spot a clogged drain, you can take the necessary steps to unblock it. Consider contacting plumbers from The Otter Guys to fix your plumbing systems in Charlottesville and say goodbye to your clogged drain.