Bathroom and kitchen sinks should run smoothly, making your life easier and keeping your space sanitary. The trouble with plumbing is more complicated than meets the eye. Turning a tap or pushing down on a flush seems simple, but without passable pipes, these won’t work properly. A single clogged drain can lead to serious issues throughout your system, so it is always better to manage these issues quickly.
Backup, gurgling noises or foul smells are all signs of a clog within your system. Before you rush to the hardware store for liquid drain cleaner or a snake, it is important to consider just what type of clog you are dealing with. When a clog grows out of control, it is easy to see that you are dealing with plumbing problems, but these issues always start off small. Being able to recognize the tell-tale signs of clogs can help to avoid the worst-case scenario.
Identifying Clogs: What to Watch Out For
If you notice sinks are draining slowly, it is easy to do a quick Google search for natural “remedies” that claim to fix your pipes, but some of these can do more harm than good. A cup of baking soda and vinegar, for example, is not enough to handle those stubborn clogs, deep within your system. Worse yet, these amateur methods can lead to DIY disasters, like a ruined garbage disposal. Boiling water is not a solution to clogs, and you are better off not trying!
Plumbing Issues in Multiple Drains: If more than one fixture is backing up at a time, it is a sign that you are dealing with a clog in your sewer drain. These often begin with clogs in toilets and will often spread to ground level areas, like a shower drain.
Unusual Sounds/Behaviour: Whether you are in a new space or a comfortable environment, you do know what a running toilet or sink should sound like. Unusual sounds or actions should not be taken lightly, so it is important to take note of these changes.
- Toilets: If a toilet does not flush properly or, it begins to gurgle when other water fixtures are being used, this is a sign that there is a serious issue at hand. If a washing machine, or sink is running and you hear a gurgling or bubbling sound, it means that there is an issue in the main drain.
- Shower/Tub Drain: The drains around your bathtub or shower are often the first affected and the most seriously effected by clogs. These drains are at lower levels, and are prone to outside factors, such as hair clogs. If there is a significant clog within your system, you might even experience sewage backup into these spaces. If this is the case, a drain snake is not enough to unclog drains.
- Sink Drains: It is also possible for there to be air caught in your drain pipes. Running water down the drain of your sink might cause a rise in water level or gurgling in your toilet bowl.
- Washing Machines: Your plumbing system is highly connected, and that includes the appliances. If water is flowing out of your washing machine and causes overflow in your other drains, it is yet another sign that your sewer drain is clogged.
Expert Plumbing Services: Unclog Your Drains the Right Way
For bathroom sinks, showers, toilets, water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers, getting rid of clogs can be complicated – and messy! Instead of struggling through an instruction manual or trying to clean up an even worse mess, call an expert to handle your system properly. Whenever you are in need of drain cleaning, put away the toilet plunger and call a professional instead.
After years in the industry, the highly trained and experienced plumbers at Pete & Son Plumbing are able to handle even the most stubborn clogs, and diagnose the most complicated issues. In the city, or in rural spaces, our experts can handle standard sewer lines, as well as septic tanks. Call today to speak to an expert and get your system running smoothly.
