4 Signs of Clogged Drains

In daily life, most of us do not pay attention to the operation of drainage pipes. Because they almost only work “silently”, which is to bring wastewater out. However, wastewater contains many pollutants and not everything is easy to drain. Among them, grease, fat, hair, food scraps, … can completely accumulate in the drain, over time will create “giant” obstacles that block the pipe space, making wastewater unable to drain or drain slowly.

The longer the blockage lasts, the higher the repair cost will be. Therefore, knowing the signs is important to help you handle the problem early and promptly when it occurs, avoiding serious consequences. (Some of our customers have had to spend a lot of money to replace pipes that have been clogged with grease for a long time) .

Below are 4 signs to help you recognize that your drain is clogged. If you detect any of these signs, you should immediately follow the tips to unclog the drain at home or contact plumbing experts for assistance.

1. The drain is clogged when the water drains slowly after flushing

If you flush the water after washing the dishes every day and see that the water drains very quickly, but today the water drains much slower. That is the basic sign for you to recognize that the drain is clogged. This can happen similarly to the sink, bathtub, toilet, bathroom floor drain.

Usually, blockages only affect a fixed area. For example, grease and fat that accumulate over time clog the sink; hair buildup clogs the sink; a full septic tank or flushing too much toilet paper clogs the toilet; etc.

However, there are exceptions. Since all of your home’s drains are connected to the main sewer line, a blockage can sometimes affect every drainage area in your home. If you notice that your sink, sink, and bathroom floor drain are all draining slowly or showing signs of backing up, you probably have a problem with your main sewer line

2. Water is drained in one area but water overflows in another

Believe it or not? I once flushed the sink and the toilet water immediately came back up with a terrible smell. That’s when I knew my newly rented room had a clogged drain.

You may feel confused if you fall into a similar situation! The cause of the above phenomenon is due to a blockage in the drain pipe that prevents wastewater from draining down. Instead, the wastewater will flow back up or be redirected to another pipe in your house

3. The water level in the toilet is abnormally low

Normally , the water level in the toilet bowl is always balanced to prevent odors and ensure enough force to suck waste straight down at once. If you see the water level is unusually high or low, that is a sign of blockage.

There is a device called a trap in the toilet that regulates the water level inside the toilet bowl, the water level in the toilet bowl cannot exceed the highest point of the trap. However, this is where the most frequent blockages occur, and when it is blocked, water cannot be refilled into the tank or cannot be flushed out. You can use a plunger a few times to push the obstruction out of the trap .

4. Has an unmistakable sewer smell

The simplest sign of a clogged drain is a foul smell. This is an unmistakable smell because it contains a large amount of methane gas – a toxic gas – with a very strong rotten egg smell. You will easily notice the strong or faint smell of the drain depending on the level of blockage.

If you smell sewer odor coming from any location, whether it is the toilet, sink, lavatory, etc., it is a pretty accurate sign that your drain is clogged. Apply some home drain cleaning methods as soon as possible and don’t hesitate to call a professional if self-treatment is not effective!

In short, clogged drains can be a problem that causes a lot of trouble. Fortunately, if you detect it early and handle it promptly, the consequences of the blockage are negligible. EcoClean hopes that the above article will help you do that!