Blocked Drains: Signs You Need an Emergency Plumber

Posted on: 14 December 2016

Although minor blockages in your drains may not cause you too much grief in your home, leaving them unchecked can lead to emergency plumbing disasters in your home. Not only will this cause you a significant amount of inconvenience, but it can also translate into exorbitant costs in repairs and water damage. Therefore, it would be crucial for every homeowner to know how to spot the signs of blocked drains and seek the services of a plumber post haste. Below are some of the signs you should look out for that would be indicative of a blocked drain in your home.

Water takes too long to drain

If you are taking a bath or washing dishes and find that the water is not going down the drain as fast as it should, chances are you have a blocked drain. This type of symptom is typically common in the bathtub, the shower or the kitchen sink. This is because these drains are exposed to a significant amount of waste materials such as biofilm from regular bathing, food particles in the kitchen sink and more. Over time, the particulate matter begins to accumulate within the drain, decreasing its internal diameter. This, in turn, makes water begin to drain slowly.

Lingering foul odours in your home

If you have a blocked drain, one of the first signs that you will notice is nasty smells making their way into your home. When there are blockages in your drain, it means that bacteria, food particles and more begin to get backed up in the drain. With time, they begin to decompose and this will release noxious odours that will waft through the drainage system. As such, if you begin to notice that there is a lingering foul odour in your home and you cannot pinpoint the source, you need to call a plumber to inspect your drainage.

Gurgling noises in your home

Another sign to look out for that would indicate you may be dealing with a blocked drain is the sudden onset of gurgling noises in the different sinks in your home. These gurgling noises come about due to air that has been trapped in your drains due to the blockage. As water enters the drains and tries to push through the blockage, it integrates with the air and forms bubbles. These bubbles subsequently rise up your drains and begin to present themselves in sinks, toilets and more. Any signs of gurgling noises in your home should be immediately addressed by an emergency plumber.

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