Warning Signs Of A Blocked Drain (And When To Call A Pro For Help!)
Signs Of A Blocked Drain
A blocked drain is a problem that can quickly become an emergency. Blocked drains can lead to serious water damage, unsanitary conditions, horrible smells and costly repairs for both your drains, pipes and home. Remember these warning signs if you think your drain might be blocked and call a drain unblocking expert for help.
We’re going to break down 5 most common signs that your drain is totally blocked or a build up is starting. From slow drainage, to horrible smells, gurgling sounds, overflow and raised water levels. We will give you clear guidance on how to mitigate these issues whilst you wait for help to arrive. Let’s get your drains cleared.
1. Slow Drainage
Slow draining water is an early sign of a blocked drain. If you fill your sink or flush the toilet and notice it’s taking a long time to drain, maybe combined with other issues like a gurgling sound or bad smell, it’s a tell tale sign of a blocked drain. You might notice:
- Water pooling in the shower instead of draining away
- Sinks holding water after you remove the plug or when running for a while
- Toilet bowl filling and draining slowly after flushing
Slow draining water is usually caused by a build up in a pipe that is not a full blockage yet. This can be from common everyday materials like grease and oil, hair and food waste. This builds up over time and causes a slow drainage issue.
2. Gurgling Noises When Draining Water
Gurgling noises, bubbling or whistling when water is draining is a telltale sign of drainage problems. This is caused by a partial blockage, air bubbles are created trying to escape past the clog. This warning sign should not be ignored as it will quickly become a full blockage! You might notice these sounds when:
- Flushing the toilet or draining your sink and shower
- Emptying the bathtub and listening to the drain
- Running the tap and listening to the water flow
This can be caused by natural items in your drain like hair but also by flushing non-flushable items (even those wet wipes that might say flush safe!).
3. Horrible Smells From Your Drain
Bad smells coming from your drain, typically smelling like a rotten egg or sewage are red flags for a drain blockage. This smell is often caused by waste and bacteria building up in your drains, food particles, soap scum and waste accumulating.
If the odor is coming from multiple drains or smells of sewage it can be caused by a larger issue but if the smell is localized to once specific drain its a clear sign you have a blockage in that drain.
4. Sink, Toilets and Drains Overflowing
If water starts to spill out of your drain or not draining when you fill the sink, you have a serious drainage issue and should try to cut off the water flow ASAP. A single overflowing fixture is a sign of that specific drain being blocked. Stop using the drain and call a drain unblocking expert for help.
5. Raised Water Levels In Your Toilet
If the water level in your toilet is higher than it usually is, it’s a hard to notice sign but a clear one that there is a drainage problem causing water to pool higher up in your toilet drain. A constantly full or nearly full toilet bowl means that waste is not flushing away properly and is going to continue rising.
If you have to flush multiple times to clear the toilet or find the water level is rising after each flush you should try to stop using the toilet until the source of the blockage has been identified.
DIY Solutions To A Blocked Drain
If you notice your drain might be blocked it’s important to work quickly and avoid using the drain if possible until it is fixed. If you need to use the drain or it is already overflowing, it’s important you contact a drain unblocking expert for help to avoid damaging your drainage, but here are some DIY short-term solutions you can use in the meantime.
- Pouring hot or boiling water down your drain can help to dissolve and remove clogs or at least provide a temporary solution. Be careful as if the blockage is not removed you can melt your pipes from boiling water pooling in them!
- Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar (about 1/3rd a cup, 75g/75ml) and pour this down your sink, let it sit for an hour and flush with the hot water tap.
- Using a plunger to try and dislodge a blockage through manual pressure.
- A drain snake or wire coat hanger (DIY drain snake) can be straightened and put down your drain to try and unblock your drain. You can also curve the end of your coat hanger drain snake into a hook shape to pull the blockage out.
These are temporary solutions that you can use to avoid major issues but be careful using them frequently as you can cause damage to your pipes and drainage by repeatedly using boiling water or chemical drain cleaners.
When To Call In A Fixed Price Drainage Expert
If you notice any of the warning signs of a blocked drain, from subtle noises to a flooded bathroom, you should consider calling a professional for advice or help with unblocking your drain. It might feel like an unnecessary expense to call for help, but having your drain unblocked for a fixed price of £130 is a small cost compared to the thousands you might end up paying to repair major water damage done to your property.
Drainage experts are able to use tools like CCTV survey drain cameras to quickly find the source of your problem and take note of the condition of your drains in case there are signs of damage.
Listen to your drains and call an expert when needed! If you have a blocked drain or don’t know and need help finding the blockage, give us a call today for free advice and a fixed price quote to unblock your drain.