How to know when your drain is blocked
A blocked drain can be incredibly frustrating when it happens. Whether it’s your bathroom, kitchen, toilet…you name it, it’s a headache at the best of times.
We advise that it can be less of a problem if you can identify a blockage before it’s at its worst. This can save you valuable time and money.
The key to avoiding a blocked drain is looking for the signs.
Here are some signs to look out for:
Smells:
A foul odour is one of the most obvious signs of your underlying problem. These smells account for many different issues, but it’s most commonly found in the kitchen. Food which flows down the waste pipe can get stuck and begin to rot.
Bad smells are likely to be the first sign of a potential blockage, so it’s essential you act on it quickly.
Sounds:
If you know your home well, it’s likely you’ll know how your pipes usually sound. If you hear a variation within your drainage, its most likely not a good thing.
A blockage can build up air pockets within your pipework, which creates gurgling noise within your drainage.
Sight:
This couldn’t be a more obvious sign your drain is blocked. Slow or non-draining sinks or a backed-up toilet can be obvious signs that you have a blockage. If it is an isolated drain, then the issue Is most likely in the drain pipe connected to the appliance. But If the blockage is consistent in all drains within the system, the issue is likely to be in the sewer drain.
The best way to understand the extent of your issue is seeing if an increase in water volume affects another drain’s water level. For example; you can see that flushing the toilet is making the water in the shower rise. If that’s the case, you have a fully blocked drain and you will require a waste management engineer.
As much as sight is the most obvious of sign, it also means that the pipe is at its final stages of blockage. This being said, all blockages can be fixed.
What’s the next step?
If you have discovered one, two or even all three of the signs above, then it’s recommended that you call a professional as soon as possible.
If you are the homeowner, then you may assume you are responsible for the investigation and possible repair of the blocked drain, but if the system crosses over with a neighbouring property then it’s likely the local water and sewage company is responsible. Once you have identified who is responsible, the process should be crystal clear.
We advise that you speak with a professional before attempting to try and unblock the system yourself. Our friendly engineers are on hand 24 hours a day to make sure you have a open running system in no time at all.
For more information on blocked drains or to book a call out:
Call: (01646) 629089
Or email: info@westwaleswaste.com
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