As you use the sinks and showers in your home, oil, food and other substances can accumulate in your drains over time. While some buildup is normal, an excessive amount can block your pipes. Without regular drain cleaning, these blockages can cause problems ranging from unpleasant smells to sewer backups.
Here’s the thing: drain problems can escalate surprisingly quickly. If you notice any of these signs, it’s crucial to schedule an emergency drain cleaning right away — before the buildup causes bigger (and more expensive) problems.
- Several Drains Are Clogged
Most homeowners experience the occasional drain clog. However, if more than one sink or shower in your home has a clogged drain, it might indicate a blockage in your home’s main plumbing lines. While you can usually unclog a single drain with a commercial product, deeper blockages require professional attention.
- Your Toilets Keep Overflowing
An overflow can happen once in a while, but if your toilet water spills over regularly, it’s a red flag. Frequent overflows may stem from a blocked drain line or sewer line. A professional plumber can find the source of the problem and clean your drains, if necessary.
- You Notice Strange Water Backups
A slow drain can cause water backups, but what happens if you’re seeing water in sinks you’re not using? If flushing your upstairs toilet causes a water backup in your laundry room sink, it could be due to a blockage in your main line. Sometimes, this can happen when blocked exterior drains prevent full drainage.
- Your Sinks Are Making Noise
If you hear sounds coming from the drain when you stand close to your sink or shower, you might have a clogged pipe. As water and air try to move past a clog, they can create sucking, bubbling and gurgling sounds. These sounds often start well before a full blockage, so call a plumber as soon as you notice them.
- Drain Smells Won’t Go Away
Drains can be smelly places, thanks to the bacteria that grow on built-up oils and food particles. If you’ve cleaned and unclogged your drains but the smell still lingers, you could be dealing with a more serious issue.
- Clogs That Keep Coming Back
When one of your sinks or showers gets clogged on a regular basis, it usually means something’s going on in the pipes beneath it. For example, there might be a damaged pipe or a particularly solid blockage that can’t be permanently cleared with conventional drain cleaner.
- Sewage Smells
Problems with your home’s sewer lines can cause sewage to flow back into your home or leak out of your pipes into the ground. If you notice a strong sewage smell — whether it’s outside in your yard or coming from your kitchen sink — it could indicate an impending plumbing emergency.
If a backup in the sewer pipe caused the issue, you’ll need a sewer and drain cleaning. And if there’s something else going on, such as a damaged sewer pipe, a plumber can find and fix the problem.
Call in a Plumber for Emergency Drain Cleaning
While these warning signs don’t always mean a drain disaster is inevitable, it’s essential to take action quickly. An emergency drain cleaning can clear your pipes and fix the cause of the problem before it affects your plumbing, causes water damage or leads to sewage backup. Drain cleaning is especially important in Michigan, where cold winter weather can freeze pipes and make drain clogs worse.
If you’re noticing any problems with your drains, Great Dane can help. Our operators are available 24 hours per day, so we can dispatch a skilled plumber quickly.
