Years of grime, sludge, grease, soap residue, and even objects that are stuck in your drainage pipes all contribute to creating clogs. Typically, the build-up required to clog a drain takes a long time, depending on your water hardness, so you may not even notice a problem. That said, there are a few signs to watch for that indicate clogged drains:
1. Slow Drainage
Does your shower slowly fill with water while you’re using it, or does your kitchen sink empty much more slowly than it used to? Then you might have a blocked drain. Slow drainage and standing water near drains are common signs of problems related to clogs. Over time, food items, grease, soap, and hair can lead to clogged drains in your kitchen and bathroom. When this happens, water that would normally flow away freely is trapped and slowed, resulting in backups and standing water.
2. Backed-Up Toilet
A toilet that is overflowing when you flush is another common sign of clogged drains. Homeowners might notice that backed-up toilets are sometimes caused by using too much toilet paper, but they can also be caused by a wide range of other items like wet wipes or paper towels, or even children's toys that have been accidentally flushed.
But a toilet backup may also indicate a more serious problem—especially if multiple toilets in your house are congested. This can be caused by a main sewer line clog, which will need further investigation and potentially sewer cleaning.
3. Puddles in Your Yard
If it’s not spring, where heavy rain or snow melts and soaked backyards are common, you might have a backup in your sewer lateral. Generally, sewer backups that flood your backyard are caused by tree roots infiltrating the sewer pipe, or it could be a main water line break.
Tree roots that have mingled with your plumbing require the help of a professional Long Island plumber to resolve. Give them a call right away and report that you need emergency services.
4. Bad Smells
Bad odors coming from drain lines are a common sign of clogged drains. These foul odors can be caused by rotten food or dissolving hair particles. However, if you see black sludge coming out of drains in addition to that smell, or if the smell is particularly awful, it's possible your sewer line has backed up. If that is the case, you'll likely suffer from several additional plumbing problems at the same time. The best thing to do in that situation is to call a plumber as soon as possible.
5. Gurgling and Other Noises
Many people don’t realize that drains aren’t supposed to make gurgling noises. In fact, your pipework is purposefully designed not to gurgle. Gurgling sounds appear when the water and air in your pipes can’t flow freely because of a blocked pipe. This causes the air to struggle to escape and makes a gurgling noise.
