9 Surprising Signs It May Be Time For A Drain Cleaning Service | San Antonio, TX
No one wants to deal with a clogged sink, but if you find yourself dealing with a clog, you need to look for a drain cleaning service. There are a lot of things that you can handle on your own, but drain cleaning is not one of them. If the problem is not properly taken care of the first time around, then you will be dealing with a new clog soon thereafter and that is a situation that no one wants to find themselves in.
However, it can be difficult to figure out the best way to stay ahead of clogs. Most average homeowners do not even think about blocked plumbing until they have an experience with one. If you are not actively thinking about the potential for a clog, you probably are not noticing the signs that you may be close to an obstruction. With that in mind, this blog addresses many preliminary signs that indicate it may be time for a drain cleaning service.
Like most things, it is always better to get ahead of a problem instead of waiting for it to become a larger issue. Some homes actually benefit from a regular drain cleaning service every six months to a year. These are situations where things like tree roots lead to clogs. Since you can’t remove the tree clogs, it makes more sense to have your pipes cleaned regularly so that they don’t impact your sewage flow. All it takes is one sewer backup to let most homeowners know they never want to deal with it again.
If you want to learn some of the top signs that you need a drain cleaning service, keep reading. While we cannot mention every single sign that you might notice around your home, we tried to hit as many of the common ones as possible. With that in mind, if something else is happening that has you nervous about a backup, don’t delay in calling a plumber. You will never regret having your drains cleaned out, but you will regret waiting a few more months to do so if you find yourself standing in wastewater on the first floor of your home.
Plumbing Fixtures Are Starting to Backup
One of the top indications that you need a drain cleaning service is if you notice backups in your plumbing fixtures. If this is happening, you won’t have to question that you have a clog because it will be fairly obvious. For instance, you might notice that while your dishwasher is running, water will start to come out of the top of your kitchen sink. Alternatively, if you entice that sink water is coming out of the bathtub or toilet water is coming out of the sink, you have even bigger issues.
With that in mind, you need to pay attention to these things because they are not only bothersome and gross, but they are signs that there is an obstruction somewhere in your pipes. Right now, it might be a partial obstruction, but as it grows, it will eventually turn into a full obstruction that will lead to widespread plumbing issues. You can help prevent a bigger issue from forming by promptly calling a drain cleaning service the first time of trouble.
Musty, Moldy Smells from Under the Sink
Another big indicator that something might be wrong with your plumbing is if you notice that musty, moldy smells are wafting up from under your sink or from under the bathtub. Sometimes this does not indicate that you need a drain cleaning service but instead that you need a professional plumber. In this case, you might be smelling mold that is growing on the rotted wood around a bathtub or a sink because of a hidden leak. It doesn’t take too much water to drop from a leak in order for mold to form.
In this situation, you want to get a plumber into your home to take care of the leak as soon as possible. Mold can grow very quickly once it takes hold and puts the health of your family in jeopardy. In addition, dry rot can lead to major structural issues for your home which is even more reason why you want to call a plumber right away. If it turns out that instead of a leak you have a clog, then a call to a drain cleaning service may be in order.
Curious how a clogged drain can cause mold to grow in your home? It’s actually very simple. Mold looks for places with a lot of moisture to grow, and if there is stagnant water in your plumbing system or an obstruction that is filled with bacteria, then it is the perfect environment. A drain that is filled with debris such as hair, grease, scrum, and sewage is the perfect place for mold and mildew to start to grow. Due to the fact that it is a partial blockage, you might not notice it, but you will be able to smell it. With that in mind, if you start to smell unwelcome odors wafting out of your sinks or drains, you need to call a drain cleaning service right away.
Sewage Odors Wafting Through Your Home
Along the same train of thought, if you notice sewage odors are starting to waft throughout your home this is another indication that it is time to call a drain cleaning service. The bacteria that are in sewage is actually what starts to smell, so when it is building up within your sewage pipes, you start to smell the methane gas that is building up alongside of it.
Even more concerning is if a steady stream of methane gas is floating back into your air. This is usually most noticed on the first floor near a floor drain or near the kitchen sink. The problem is if you have a partial or almost complete obstruction, the sewage gases are also not able to fully pass out of your home. Therefore, they waft upwards and escape through open pipes. This creates the sewage smell that many people find they cannot get out of their kitchen sink. Dropping citrus peels down your garbage disposal will not be enough to solve the problem, you will need to call a drain cleaning service to clear the blockage so that the gas can properly escape again.
Methane gas is not good for your health, and it is not good for your home. Repeated exposure over time can actually make you sick, which is why you don’t want to delay having a plumber come out to your home if you notice that the odors are hanging around. It only takes a few hours for a drain cleaning service, and it can completely solve the problem.
Water Bills Are Higher Than Usual
Believe it or not, higher-than-usual water bills can also indicate that it is time for a drain cleaning service. When most people see their water bills shoot up high they suspect that they have a plumbing leak, but it’s possible that the leak is coming from a tree root that has grown into your pipes that are hidden deep underground. You won’t be able to find that leak on your own, but a plumber that works on drains will have special cameras that they can feed down your drain pipes to take a look.
Standing Water Sitting Around Appliances
Another strong sign that it may be time to call in a drain cleaning service is if you notice standing water around your appliances. Many people see water left over in their washing machine and assume that their washer needs to be repaired or that they just need to finish the spin cycle. However, the problem might not be with the appliance, especially if it is linked to your floor drain. In this case, the standing water might indicate that the water is too much for a compromised pipe to drain. If there is a partial block in a pipe, it will take a long time to drain the type of water a washing machine produces.
The same can be true for other appliances in your home, such as your dishwasher. If there is a clog in your main water line, your plumbing line might not be able to keep up with the draining water, and so it gets left in the dishwasher. One time may be a simple fluke, but if it continues to happen, then it is time to call a drain cleaning service to get to the bottom of the issue once and for all.
Insects Are Living in Pipes
Chances are if you happen to spy insects in your pipes you are more dismayed and grossed out than you are worried about a clogged drain. However, if you see certain insects such as drain flies or small rodents you should be slightly alarmed. Many insects find the bacteria that grow in partial clogs to be the perfect breeding place. Therefore, they lay their eggs in the clogs and then you see them emerging out of your sinks when the eggs hatch. In this case, you don’t need an exterminator, you need a drain service.
Once the clog is removed from your pipes the insects and their eggs will be as well. However, you should know that insects are not the only invaders that you should be worried about. Mice also sometimes will use drainpipes to get around your home, especially if they are broken and shortcuts to final destinations. In this scenario, the drain cleaning service might spot a hole or a bad seal and then recommend that you have some plumbing work completed as well to solve the issue.
Air Bubbles in Your Sink or Toilet
Some people report gurgling in their sink or toilet after they flush or once they turn the water off. While this may seem innocent, it is actually a warning sign that your sink or toilet is starting to get clogged. Air should never be able to travel upwards through a pipe when water is crashing down because the water should fill the pipes. However, when there is a partial blockage, the air gets trapped behind the blockage and then travels upwards through the water resulting in a bubbling nose.
Therefore, if you hear a gurgling noise this is a sign that there is a blockage that is trapping air somewhere in your pipelines. The best thing you can do is call a drain cleaning service to further investigate the issue. It is always better to get it taken care of before your sink stops draining completely.
Overflowing Toilets
Everyone will have a toilet clog on them at some point in their life. No one likes to deal with a clogged toilet, but with some elbow grease and a good plunger, you can make the situation work. However, if you are dealing with a toilet that overflows on a regular basis it no longer becomes an accidental inconvenience. Once it is a pattern then you likely have an issue with a clogged drain and you need to get a drain cleaning service out to your home to get it fully resolved.
Clogs in Your Drain Repeatedly
The same is true for any clogs that occur in drains around your home. Bad drain habits can sometimes lead to an accidental clog, but if you are constantly calling a drain cleaning service then you need to take action.
If you have noticed any of these signs in your home, it is time to call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio for help. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.
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