Many homeowners in Sioux Falls reach for chemicals when they have a clogged drain. You may not realize that those chemicals can do a lot of damage, from breaking the pipes to making you sick. You may even put off calling for help because you think the clog will break up on its own. To avoid serious and expensive pipe damage, you need to know these four signs that you need to call a professional drain cleaning company as soon as possible.
1. Backed-Up Water
Backed-up water, also known as standing water, is a common sign of a clogged drain. Any feature in your home that uses water can suffer from the problem. You might leave your shower and come back later to find standing water near the drain. It’s just as common to find water backed up in your sink or even your toilet. The water backs up when the clog is big enough that water can’t make its way through the pipe. You’ll continue seeing standing water until you take care of the clog.
2. Multiple Drains Affected
The best time to call the pros is when you have a clog that affects more than one drain. Think of your home’s plumbing as a complex system with multiple pipes working together to carry away waste and water. When there’s a central clog, every drain sends water and waste to the same pipe. This means that anything that can’t get through can come back through the original drain or a different one. You might find food debris in your shower or shampoo and body wash film in your kitchen sink.
3. Slow Drains
Don’t wait to call until you see standing water. If you have slow drains, call to have the pros clean them quickly. This reduces the risk that you’ll need to spend more on drain cleaning or complex repairs later. Drains slow down when clogs start to form. Clogs can consist of soap film, hair, food scraps, and any other type of waste.
4. Bad Smells
Organic materials are a common reason for plumbing and drain clogs. They occur when you or others in your home dispose of items like vegetable peelings and grease in the drains. Many of those materials produce foul odors as they degrade. You’ll notice these smells when you get close to the drain. As a clog grows, its odor can spread through your entire home. There’s also a risk that the clog will lead to a fruit fly infestation as the scent attracts the bugs.
Drain cleaning is a job best left to the professionals. They have the right tools and supplies to break up even the biggest of drain clogs. If you have more than one clog, bad odors, slow drains, or standing water in your Compton, CA home, call Frausto Plumbing for professional drain cleaning ASAP.
