4 Warning Signs Your Drains Might Be Broken

The drains in your home are extremely important. They are responsible for taking wastewater from your showers, sinks, and toilets and disposing of it in a sewer or septic. When something goes wrong with a drain pipe in your home this process does not occur easily if at all. This could mean significant hardship and damage later on.

It is crucial that you learn to notice the signs of a drain that is not working properly and needs to be repaired. Below are 4 of these signs and being cognizant of them will allow you to address the issue before it is too late.

1. Stains

Water needs to be able to drain away from your home through pipes. When pipes are clogged or broken, the water is not able to flow away and will back up or leak out where it is broken. If this is occurring in your home, you will definitely see water stains  below where your pipes run, especially in the basement where drainage pipes are usually found.

Every so often, perform an inspection of your drainage pipes and look for spots where they have leaked. Even a small leak can one day turn into a big one, causing significant damage to your home. The water leaking from a drain pipe can also cause mold to grow which can be costly to clean up and cause serious health issues for you and your family.

2. Clogs

In a home, things such as hair, soap residue, dirt, and hair can cause clogs in drains. These clogs either cause water to drain slowly or not at all. This can cause backups in sinks and showers and will eventually cause pipes to burst.

To prevent bigger drainage issues, pay close attention to how water drains from your toilets, sinks, and showers. If it is draining slow or not at all, you can try a drain opener but if you do ensure that it is safe on pipes and, if applicable, septic systems. Some of these cleaners can damage these components because of the harsh chemicals in them. If you do not want to go this route or you tried and it did not work, call a professional plumber. He/she will have the knowledge and tolls to unclog your drain.

3. Odours

When water does not drain from your home, it stays stagnant in the pipes. As a result, you will notice foul odours emanating from the sinks and showers of your home. This is due to food particles that are stuck in your drain breaking down and this can be unpleasant and nauseating.

Even if you are experiencing no other symptoms of a drain issue, foul odours can be a sign of bigger issues to come. Instead of waiting for clogs or slow drainage, call a plumber as soon as possible. Foul odours are a tell-tale sign of drainage issues and should not be put off or ignored.

4. Pooling on property

Sometimes when you have drain issues the symptoms do not occur inside the home. When pipes going leading to or from the sewer or septic tank leak, the water will rise to the surface and create pools in your yard.

Water pooling in your yard means it is too late to try and remedy a drain issue yourself. Because this means that there are issues with your pipes outside and underground, you will probably need a professional plumber to excavate the ground and repair the pipe that is leaking. Failure to address this pooling water will mean it will be left stagnant, creating foul odours and possible leaking back into your basement.