If you're like the average homeowner, the upper, visible part of a sink, bathtub, or shower drain is what you're familiar with. Yet, your residential drainage system runs from the various water fixture drain openings all the way out to the municipal sewer or septic drain field.
Depending on the drainpipe material you have, you may face various problems with your residential drains. Performing prompt drain repairs is essential for avoiding a complete failure of your drainage system.
Here are some common problems that you may encounter with your residential drains.
1. Drain Clogs
Your drains carry all sorts of waste out of your home.
Over time, the waste can build up inside the drains and start to interfere with the smooth flow of wastewater and sewage. During this time, you may notice that you have slow drains, or gurgling sounds and sewer odour coming from your drains. Ignoring these signs may result in wastewater and sewage backing up in your drains and flowing on your floors.
Drain clogs can occur due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Putting the wrong items into your drains.
- Not cleaning your drains regularly.
- Offset drains pipes.
If you notice the first signs of clogging in your drains, you should try to clear the clog with basic plumbing tools such as a plunger, auger, or drain-cleaning chemicals. If the problems don't go away, call an experienced plumber immediately.
2. Root Damage
This is a common problem with certain drain pipe materials such as traditional clay pipes and pipes connections that don't provide a watertight seal at the joints. If you have large trees growing on your property, their roots may grow towards your sewer drains as they search for an underground water source. When this happens, the drains can get damaged by the intruding roots.
Root-damaged drains will need to be excavated and a watertight seal installed at the trouble areas.
3. Offset Drain Pipes
While offset pipes can cause drain clogs, they're a problem that needs to be addressed separately from the clogging issue they may cause. As the ground on which your home stands moves due to seismic activity or activities occurring above-ground, so will the drains buried outside.
Over time, this may cause the drains to get moved out of place or damaged at the joints. When this happens, you'll need to get the drains excavated and ensure the sections of the pipes that no longer align are lined up correctly again.
Malfunctioning or damaged drains can be difficult to repair, especially if you lack the proper plumbing know-how and skills. Don't hesitate to call a professional plumber when faced with a drain issue you can fix yourself.
