Keeping the drains in your home unclogged and clean requires knowing when you need professional help. Here are signs you should hire a plumber to clean drains.
Are you tired of breathing in that horrible smell that’s coming from your kitchen sink? Are you noticing that the water is taking longer and longer to drain? If so, then you need to hire a plumber to clean your drains and get them functioning properly.
Many people make the mistake of trying to clean it themselves. However, doing so can be a waste of time and money. Your home remedies won’t be able to get rid of those nasty, resilient clogs. Not to mention that the coat hanger method could damage your pipes.
Read on for an in-depth guide that highlights several signs that you need to hire a plumber to clean your drains right away.
1. The Drain Has a Terrible Odor
Have you noticed a musty or fishy smell coming from your bathroom or kitchen? If so, then it might be your drain that’s causing the foul stench. If you’re unsure, take a walk over to your drain and, cautiously, give it a sniff.
Several factors may be causing the smell. It could just be a build-up of gunk, especially in your bathroom or kitchen sink drains. Things like coffee grinds, fats, grease, hygiene products, and paper towels can all cause a build-up. It could also be the sewer system that’s causing the terrible smell.
Whatever the culprit is, it’s best to hire a plumber to clean your drains. Contrary to popular belief, hot water and soap aren’t enough to get rid of the smell. You’ll need a professional to use their experience and resources to clear out the problem at hand.
2. Clogging is a Common Theme
Perhaps you’ve noticed that several plumbing fixtures in your house are having trouble draining. For example, the kitchen and bathroom sink takes forever to drain, the water in your bathtub stands pat for a while, your dishwasher has more water than usual when you open it, etc.
These are all indications of a larger issue. If clogging has become commonplace in your home, then it’s an indication that there’s a clog in the main sewer. As you might imagine, that’s best left to a professional to clean.
The most important part is to avoid shrugging off the problem. If this trend continues, it can quickly lead to mold growth in your home, thus creating a far larger issue. Hire a professional right away to fix the problem and get your drains back up to speed.
3. Unfamiliar Sounds
Weird sounds are always alarming, but you’d be surprised at how often most homeowners choose to ignore them. If their HVAC system starts making whirring noises, they ignore it. If their washer and dryer start to hum or hiss, they shrug it off. They do the same when their drain starts to make weird sounds.
What’s the common thread to all of these? Ignoring them will only cause the problem to worsen. In the case of a clogged drain, you’ll notice that the water starts to make a gurgling noise when it’s trying to drain.
The gurgling is typically an initial sign of blockage. If left uncleaned, that blockage will cause a fully clogged drain. The gurgling sound comes from the release of several air bubbles as the water passes through the blockage—slowly.
If you’re hearing the gurgling sound in several drains at once, it’s a sign that there’s a clog within the main sewer system. In any case, hire a professional plumber to solve it.
4. Puddles Are Forming in the Backyard
For many homeowners, it’s hard to make the connection between weird occurrences happening inside and outside of their homes. A good example of this is when puddles start to form in the backyard. Most homeowners won’t take this as a sign of a clogged drain, but that’s exactly what it is.
Be sure to take stock of your backyard often. Make a mental note of where puddles usually form in your home, as well as where they don’t.
If you walk outside one day and wonder “has that puddle always been there?”, take it as a sign and contact a professional plumbing service right away.
Puddles in the backyard are generally a sign of a clogged drain in your yard. It isn’t uncommon for debris (such as sticks, twigs, and leaves) to get stuck inside and cause blockage. If caught early on, this can be fixed with relative ease. If not, it can do significant damage to your landscape, as well as your home’s foundation.
5. Standing Water
Obviously, standing water is never a good sign. If you notice that your sink, tub, or shower has standing water, you should schedule an appointment with a plumber right away.
Standing water isn’t uncommon. If your bathtub or shower has standing water, then it’s probably due to a buildup of hair and the self-care products that you use. If it’s in the kitchen sink, then it’s likely a buildup of food, grease, etc.
Generally, standing water isn’t a huge cause for panic. However, you’ll want to contact a professional to fix it to ensure that the clog is completely gone and so that you aren’t doing further damage to your pipes.
Hire a Plumber When You See the Signs
Be sure to read this article for more information on the 5 best drain cleaners that you can invest in to prevent clogged drains from happening in the future.
For more information, call Eyman Plumbing, Heating, and Air in Omaha at (402) 731-2727, and we will be happy to assist you further.