When it comes to your home’s plumbing system it’s not a matter of if you’ll have a drain problem, it’s a question of “when.” Whether a person lives in a one bedroom, modest home, or a sprawling 7 bedroom house, they are bound to have issues with their drains eventually.
Since plumbing tends to be the last thing people think about until a pipe burst, a shower drain or toilet clogs, many people neglect their plumbing until it’s too late and serious and costly damage has already occurred.
Just like our automobiles need regular oil changes, our drain system needs to be maintained as well. If we put off drain cleaning, normal wear and tear can lead to clogs and expensive repairs.
The same thing happens to humans: when we eat a diet high in saturated fats for too long, eventually our arteries become clogged, leading to adverse health consequences, some of which are irreversible.
When a homeowner neglects routine drain cleaning and problems arise, the costs of repairs are generally much higher than if the homeowner had made a habit of cleaning their drains out over the years.
What types of issues can surface if you do not clean your drains regularly? Here are some examples of the common problems that arise if you neglect to clean your drains:
Bad Odors: Does your sink drain smell like rotten eggs? Do you notice an unpleasant sulfur odor emanating from your drains? Bad odors are one of the most obvious signs that you have blockages that are growing.
A bad odor coming from a drain is one of the most obvious signs that there is a problem. While the stinky drain may not be clogged yet, the fact that there are foul odors coming from the drain means there are organic materials lodged in the drain, rotting, and growing bacteria.
Clogged Drains: Do you have a bathtub, sink or shower drain that keeps clogging? If so, this may be a sign that there is a blockage that’s stopping water from draining through the pipes.
At first, the clog may not be a big deal, but as the blockage grows, it can make the draining process slower and slower until the blockage stops the flow of water altogether, which can be quite unpleasant, leading to bacteria-filled standing water – an unsightly mess.
Damage to Your Plumbing System: If we neglect our bodies for a long time, for example, if we eat a poor diet and we don’t exercise, eventually the years of neglect will take its toll on our health. It’s the same thing with drains. Years of neglect will lead to corrosion and system failures.
If you neglect to maintain your drain system, it can lead to irreversible damage. Sludge and blockages accumulate, restricting the flow of wastewater in the pipes.
As all that sludge, hair, grease, and grime accumulate over time, they: 1) impede water flow, 2) put too much stress on the pipes, 3) cause clogs, 4) cause slow draining of wastewater, and 5) stop draining altogether.
Schedule Your Routine Maintenance
When is the last time you had your drains cleaned? If you’ve never done it before, or if it’s been more than a year, contact A-1 Sewer & Septic Service Inc. to schedule an inspection to see if you need your drains cleaned.
Our inspection can look for tree roots, blockages and accumulated sludge that may be compromising your home’s drain system.
If you ignore your drains for too long, neglect without routine cleaning can lead to foul odors, system clogs and finally, damage to your plumbing system that can take years off your system’s lifespan. Don’t let that happen to you!
Let us take care of your drains – contact our office for a free estimate from one of our Kansas City plumbers!
