The drainage system is a critical component of any building. Failing to properly maintain your drainage system can lead to blockages and damages that lead to disruptions for your household or business.

Blocked drains are more than just an inconvenience. They are also a big safety risk. If water is unable to flow out of your pipes, it could attract harmful bacteria and produce a foul smell. While every homeowner has to deal with these issues at some point, you can limit their effect by addressing the problems right away.

Let’s take a look at some of the important signs that there may be problems with your drainage system:

Top signs of drainage problems

1. Slow draining

If you notice any slow draining in your property, it could be a sign that you have drain issues. Your sink, bath, shower, toilet, or anywhere else drainage is needed could be affected by several different draining problems.

A blockage is likely to lead to slow draining and can cause concern of an overflow. There are all sorts of things that could block your drains, including food, hair, toilet waste, or leaves and other outdoor debris.

It’s important to not use drain clearing products too much as it can damage your plumbing. A professional drain cleaning service is often your best choice, especially if the problem persists.

2. Flooding

This might seem obvious, but flooding is never a good sign. If you have drains that are flooding, either indoors or outdoors, you’ll want to call a professional to come take a look at it.

Drain flooding can damage your property, cause foul smells, and make your interiors less hygienic. This issue could be caused by a broken pipe or a blocked drain in many cases.

You shouldn’t wait to get help if you notice flooding as it will only get worse. If nothing is draining, buildup will continue to collect and fester in the system.

3. Strange sounds

Strange sounds are another telltale sign you may be suffering from drainage problems. The most common of these sounds is gurgling coming from your pipes and drains. This occurs when there is trapped air in your pipes, which often happens when there is a blockage.

You may have come to expect a small gurgle from your drains, however, even seemingly minor sounds shouldn’t be ignored. You’ll want to have it looked at as soon as possible to avoid an even greater issue.

4. Foul odors

A bad smell inside your property can often be difficult to locate. It could be any number of things including something your pet has done to something you have left in the back of the fridge for too long. Blocked drains can be the cause behind unwanted smells in your home.

Covering up the smell won’t do much and it won’t work long term, so it’s important to take care of the real culprit. You may smell something unpleasant before you notice any visual signs. This can help you deal with the problem sooner if you choose to address it.

5. Lawn problems

You’ll want to check outside your home for signs of drainage problems as well. One important issue to look out for is problems with your lawn. If your lawn has become flooded or is waterlogged, this can be a sign of drainage problems. You should also look for plants and weeds growing near the sewer line where they weren’t previously growing.

6. Strange reactions when using plumbing fixtures

Unusual reactions when using different plumbing fixtures is often the result of a drainage issue. Here are some particular problems you should look out for:

Flushing the toilet causes water to back up from your tub or shower
When toilet water starts to bubble – If this happens, run water in the sink closest to the toilet for a minute. If the water continues to bubble or rise, then there is a drainage problem.

What are the common causes of a blocked sewer line?

You may be wondering what to do if ALL the drains in your home begin backing up at once. In this case, you are often dealing with a sewer drain block. If drain-clearing efforts don’t work, you may need to repair or replace the entire sewer line.

Here are the primary causes leading to a sewer line block:

Pouring grease down the drain

Grease, fats, and oil are some of the biggest causes of blocked sewer lines. As such, it’s never a good idea to pour these substances down a drain.

Instead, pour hot grease into a coffee can or jar. Once it solidifies, you can throw it away. Many people mistakenly think that running hot water when pouring grease down a drain helps wash it away. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Once the grease cools off, it will harden and stick to your pipes, leading to sewer line blockage.

Flushing debris down the toilet

You want to be aware of what is appropriate to flush down your toilet. Treating your toilet as a trash can to dispose of all sorts of items will cause sewer line drains. Your safest bet is to only flush waste and toilet paper down your toilet.

Severe pipe damage

When sewer pipes are ruptured or broken, sewage won’t be able to properly drain through the system, leading to immediate and consistent backups. Here are some common causes of sewer pipe damage:

Corrosion of an older pipe that causes the pipe to break or collapse.
Sewer pipe rupture due to shifting soil, settling, or increased foot traffic of use of heavy equipment on the ground above.
Leaking joints where the seals between sections are broken.

Contact a professional plumber for your drainage problems

Some signs of drainage problems are obvious while others are harder to pick up on. Even if a problem seems small, it’s best to deal with it right away. No Probs Plumbing and Electrical’ expert team specializes in residential and commercial maintenance plumbing, from replacement water heaters and gas fitting to dripping taps and blocked drains, and is available for the moments when you need us the most. Contact us today if you’re in need of a licensed plumber in Perth.

Top 6 signs of drainage problems