The drain clog. The slow drain. We all know them, and we all find them an annoyance. Although we can take steps to prevent them by being careful of what goes down the drains and remembering to arrange for routine drain cleaning from plumbers, clogs are still going to happen from time to time. And in most situations, the reason for a clogged or slow drain is an obstruction or build-up in the drainpipes. This is a basic fix for a professional plumber.
But slow and clogged drain can also point to deeper plumbing problems: a busted sewage pump, a broken sewer pipe, or root infiltration into the sewer line. These are serious situations that call for professional repair work before sewage starts to back up into the house.
Below are signs that something worse than a standard clog is blocking up your drains or making them drain slowly. Don’t hesitate to contact us for sewer cleaning in Chevy Chase, MD when you have a bigger issue than basic clogged drains.
The drainage problems are frequent
You shouldn’t have to deal with a clogged drain problem more than once a month if that. When the troubles become so common that a plunger or hand-cranked drain snake is an essential tool kept on hand in the kitchen or the bathrooms, you have a more serious problem that needs an investigation from a pro.
More than one drain is clogged or slow at a time
A local drainpipe clog will affect one drain. So when you notice that more than one drain is clogging up at the same time, it indicates blockage or breaks farther down in the drainage system. Watch out in particular for when the clogging starts to happen in the drains lowest in the house first, such as in basement drains and sinks.
The drains are making gurgling noises
When you pour water down a slow drain or one that’s clogged, you might hear a gurgling sound from it. This could be sewer gas that’s being forced up the pipe because of damage or blockage in the sewer line.
Foul smells from the drains
When a single drain emits unpleasant sewer odors, it’s usually because the drain hasn’t been used for a while and the p-trap has dried up. This removes a barrier against the flow of sewer gas. It’s easy to fix: just pour some water down the drain. But if this doesn’t solve the problem, or there are sewer odors coming from more than one drain, it’s probably trouble in the sewer line or a broken sewage pump.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your home’s drains. Perhaps you only need standard drain cleaning. But you may require more extensive sewer line services, and you can rely on our skilled and licensed plumbers to discover what’s wrong with your plumbing and then get the job done right. We use the best in trenchless technology when it comes to repairing or replacing damaged sewer lines, as well as fixing trouble with tree root infiltration into the pipeline.
Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Contractor of Choice in Silver Spring, MD.