The plumbing in your home is going to be so important. When it works well, you will be happy and won’t even think about it. But once someone stops working the way that you would like, you can feel frustrated and want to give up. Learning some of the common signs of clogged drains and preventing this as soon as possible will prevent a big expense that you will need to worry about later.
But how are you supposed to know some of the signs of your drains being clogged? Waiting too long can lead to disaster and a big plumbing bill to worry about later on. But you also do not want to call a plumber every week to your home. Some of the most common signs that you need to get the drains of your home cleaned out include:
Standing Water
Whether you see this standing water in the shower, the bathtub, the sink or even on the floor of your basement, when you see that standing water, it is a sign that your drain is clogged and you need to do something immediately. While you can see it in the drain, the clog is most often going to be found either in the P-trap or further down in the pipes, making it hard to fix on your own.
If the clog is further up, you can clean it out with a plunger or a snake. If you can access the P-trap, then you can disassemble this part and give it a good washing out. Both of these are steps that you can do on your own. If it is further down though, calling the professionals in will make a big difference and can help fix it before it gets worse.
One thing to remember though is if you see some standing water in the basement, then this is a sign that the clog is further down, usually in the sewer. This is definitely the problem if you have this happen more than once. Do not work on it on your own. Hire a plumber to take care of this problem.
Bad Odors
Another sign that you need to clean out the drains in your home is that you start to notice an unpleasant smell. If you notice that odor, but you struggle to pinpoint where it comes from, then it may come from a clogged drain. These clogs can close up the drain openings, especially if they are deeper down, and can make it hard for anything to get down. You will end up with some rotting materials that can cause that stench and make it hard to go away.
If this is a problem that you have, you can use something like a sip-it tool to pull the gunk out. Then scrub well around the opening of the drain. You can get rid of the smell, once it is all cleaned out, by pouring half a cup of baking soda down followed by half a cup of vinegar. The fizz that comes from this will clean and deodorize, without running your pipes.
Bugs Near the Drain
No one wants to end up with a million bugs around their home, but when there are some clogs in the drains, this is exactly what can happen. Think of all the material, including food, that would get stuck down the drains and you wouldn’t even know it. But the bugs in the world will see this as a delicious source of food.
Wherever you see bugs like cockroaches, drain flies, or fruit flies around the drain, then this is a sure sign there is something around there that is attracting those bugs to the area. There are a few simple things that you can do to help here. Use that baking soda and vinegar combination from above to help clean out the drain and remove the odor that is attracting those bugs in the first place. Then scrub the opening of the drains. If you notice that the bugs are showing up often, then you need to pay attention to what you place down the drain. A rubber splash guard can help with this.
The Drain Gurgles When Draining
It is possible that your drains are just starting to form a clog in the tub, shower drain or the sink. This may not completely stop the water from going down, so you do not have the standing water problem from before, but it does slow things down and will not allow the water to go down as quickly as you would like. In fact, it may allow just enough of the water you use to go down and trap air, which will bubble up from the drain, making its own unique sound.
If you start to notice that your drains gurgle a bit when you send water down, then consider going with an enzyme-based drain cleaner. You will need to look at the container for instructions and then allow it a few hours to do some magic before you use that drain again.
You should also be concerned when the toilet gurgles when you flush. You will find that covering all of the drains in your bathroom with some duct tape and then plunging the toilet will help you to get that clog out. Taping the drains will ensure that the force you are using will go right to the clog, rather than to some of the other areas of the bathroom plumbing.
When you are worried about some of the drains that are in your home or commercial building, then it is time to bring in the right professionals to take care of the work for you. Our team at Stellar Plumbing Drain Cleaning & Water Heaters is here to help. We know how much of a hassle it can be to have drains that are clogged and not doing the work that they should. That is why we can send out the right professionals to get the work done, answer your questions, and keep your plumbing safe for years to come. Contact our team today to learn more about some of our services.
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