5 Common Drain Problems and How to Fix Them

Keeping your drain clear and clean is key to safeguarding your home’s structural integrity and preventing clogs and slow drains. Besides reducing the risk of water damage, a clean drain prevents foul odors while ensuring efficiency. Nonetheless, you may experience drain issues, which can be pretty frustrating. Understanding the drain challenges you’re likely to face and their causes can help you find the most appropriate solution. Discussed below are five common drain problems and how to fix them.

Clogged Sewer Lines

Clogged sewer lines can quickly turn into a plumbing crisis. They happen when discharge and other matter cannot go through the sewage line. To determine if you have blocked, look out for issues like:

• Backed-up drains, which are a sign of a partially or fully blocked drain
• Unpleasant smells emanating from your floor drains, bathtub, or sink are a sign of a blockage in the main sewer line
• Backed-up sinks and toilets

Clogged sewer lines may be caused by pouring oil and grease down the drain, flushing hygiene products, underground tree roots, shifting soil, and more. With the help of a professional hydro jetting service, you can clean clogged sewer lines and slow-moving drains. The service can easily remove hair, sand, and silt clogs adhering to pipe walls. It can also eliminate tree roots and prevent food particles and grease buildup.

Collapsed Drain

A collapsed drain is among the most extreme drain problems you can experience. If you have this issue, you’ll notice the following:

• The smell of sewage and persistent blockages
• Mold or dampness around the house, which appears on walls and floors. The issue may be due to wastewater failing to leave your property completely
• Pest infestations: Collapsed drains can give pests access to your home
• Damage to your house: A collapsed drain can cause cracks in your home’s walls and foundation

Replacing or repairing the collapsed pipes is the best way to fix collapsed drains. However, doing so requires the expertise and skills of a reputable plumbing company.

Slow Drains

Slow drains can be frustrating because they result in back-ups that lead to a mess in your home and keep you from using sinks and tubs as usual. Causes of slow drains include the following:

• Hair in bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers. The more people use your bathroom, the faster hair will accumulate and cause blockage
• Sewer line obstructions, including sludge buildup, deteriorating or collapsing pipes, and tree roots
• Accumulation of grease, fat, and oils in kitchen sinks, which prevents the smooth flow of water

To fix a slow drain, you can use a flange plunger for the toilet, and a cup plunger for the tub or sink. A professional drain cleaning service can also help fix slow drains.

Drain Odors

Nasty smells from your sinks, tubs, or toilets are another common drain issue. The reasons for drain odors include:

• Clogged sewer line: If the sewage in your primary line is not draining correctly, it’ll back up and push out unpleasant odors through the drains
• Limescale, calcium, or bacteria buildup: These substances build up over time and aren’t easy to remove, contributing to a smelly kitchen or sink drain
• Poor ventilation: Your plumbing system depends on ventilation to run efficiently. Since vent pipes allow harmful gasses and pressure buildup to escape safely, odors can emanate from the drains if the vents are blocked or stop functioning well

Regular drain maintenance and cleaning is the best solution for drain odors.

Recurring Clogged Drains

If you regularly experience clogs in the same tubs and sinks, it could be a sign of a major drain problem. Plants and leaves lead to blocked drains, particularly in fall. Flushing down tampons, wet wipes, and cotton swabs result in recurring clogged drains. Determining the root cause of constant drain blockages is the best way to find a suitable solution. A professional plumber can help diagnose, fix, and prevent clogged drains.

Endnote

Drain issues can be challenging and a pain for homeowners. Familiarize yourself with the common drain problems and how to fix them to keep your drain running efficiently.