Do you feel something’s not quite right with your plumbing system, but are unsure what it is? Are you smelling something weird in your house, but you don’t know where it’s coming from? Does water drain too slowly in your sink? Is your sink making odd gurgling sounds?
You can reach for the drain cleaner and try to fix the problem yourself, but you should also know when it’s the right time to ask for help from a professional drain cleaning service. To keep your home’s drains working smoothly, it’s important to know the signs that you need to have them cleaned, whether it’s weird noises, odors, or overflowing toilets.
Let’s look at ten signs your drain needs a drain cleaning service.
10 Warning Signs Your Drain Needs Professional Cleaning
1. Slow-Draining Sink
Does your sink fill with water when you wash your hands or brush your teeth? Soap bubbles and grime collect around the stopper, leaving unattractive dirt that is difficult to remove. This is more than a little irritation; it’s an indication that your drain is clogged.
Clog buildup over the years can corrode pipes further down than you might think. If only one sink drains water slowly, the clog is most likely near the surface of the sink, so you might be able to clear it without too much problem. However, if two or more sinks in your home drain slowly simultaneously, the clog is most likely in the single sewer line they share, and this is more difficult to reach by yourself. In situations like this, you’ll need a professional drain cleaning service.
2. Standing Water
Do you have slow-moving water in your sink, or a washing machine that won’t drain? Perhaps when you take a shower, do you end up standing in water higher than your ankles?
Standing water indicates a blockage in your drainage system. Whether it’s clogged by hair or muck, enough dirt prevents water from passing through. The only method to unclog the pipes and drain water out of your property is to clean them. If it’s clogged to the point where no water can pass through, it’s imperative to seek professional assistance.
3. Unpleasant Odor
You’ve noticed a foul scent running in your home, and it seems to worsen no matter how often you clean; the problem could be coming from your drains.
Plumbing odors can come from a variety of sources, including sewage. Even though your drains appear to be working normally, food or sewage could be accumulating anywhere in your pipes. A professional drain cleaning service can remove any substance stinking up your drainage line by using specialized equipment to locate and eradicate the source of the odor, no matter where it is.
4. Gushing Sounds
After turning off the water, place your ear near the sink drain. Is there any gurgling or other strange noises coming from it?
Then, while turning on the faucet, keep an eye on the toilet. Do you see any air bubbles in the water?
Your sewage is clogged if you see air bubbles coming from your toilet. You shouldn’t ignore these disturbing noises or air bubbles because these will only worsen until you’ve cleaned your drains and pipes. The water in the pipes may be slowly draining or even spilling, so make an appointment for a mainline cleaning straight away.
5. Moldy Drains
Molds need moisture and a food source to thrive. Bacteria thrive in stagnant water, and bacteria-rich pipelines grow yucky things in your drains; therefore, a clogged drain with hair, soap scum, grease, and other organic components provides the ideal breeding site.
A musty, moldy odor emanating from your sink or bathtub may indicate a problem. You’ll definitely need a plumber’s help to clear your drain and get rid of the molds and bacteria.
6. Overflowing Toilets
Sewage drains can become clogged with waste and toilet paper and prevent your toilet from properly emptying after flushing. Sometimes, though, the problem could also lie in the drainage lines if your toilet frequently overflows. A drain cleaning service will locate the sewage clog and clear it, allowing your toilet to flush normally once more.
7. Pests in the Pipes
Do you see insects or small rodents running in your kitchen sink? Instead of calling the exterminator, why not investigate the potential of a drain problem first?
Pests may use broken drain pipes to get around toilets and other plumbing lines. Only a skilled plumber can locate and seal any leaks in your pipes and prevent pests from trespassing.
8. Presence of Fruit Flies
You’ve never had an issue with fruit flies before, but they seem to have arisen nowhere. You’ve cleared any food off the kitchen countertops and cleaned as thoroughly as possible, yet the stains persist.
Many people are unaware, but fruit flies are drawn to food stuck in drainage pipes, and they will recognize where and when the food begins to accumulate. Professional plumbers will remove all food traces from your drains, leaving these fruit flies with no meal to find.
9. Drain-Cleaning Liquid Doesn’t Solve the Problem
Using one bottle of liquid drain cleaner is usually enough to flush unwanted food debris or molds. However, if your drain still drains water slowly even after you’ve used two bottles, it means you should stop using those store-bought cleaners. They won’t only not solve the problem, but may also damage your pipes. At this point, only a drain cleaning service can clear away those stubborn clogs while protecting your pipe structure.
10. High Water Bills
Water bills fluctuate naturally, but a significant increase in one month should be noticeable. If you find a spike in your water bill, there might be a leak in your plumbing, and leaks are just as bad as clogs.
Finding leaks isn’t always easy. They could be underground or hidden behind your walls. If you can’t detect any leaks, get help from a plumber; have your drains cleared to maintain a free-flowing plumbing system while you’re at it.
Schedule Drain Cleaning With Lakewood Home Services
If you find even just one of these ten signs in your drain, don’t let it persist and drain you of your time and resources. Call your local H2O pros at Lakewood Home Services to clear any blockage on your drains once and for all.
We use the latest technology and techniques to find the clogs and ensure your plumbing fixtures and appliances are safe and running smoothly, and we’re committed to delivering unmatched water filtration installation and drain cleaning services. To get drain cleaning services in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, call 1-800-951-5898 or email info@lakewoodhomeservices.com.