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Let’s put it this way - you cooked supper and chucked the leftover food items into the kitchen sink.

Or, you might have washed your dirty paintbrush in the bathroom sink without considering the damage it can cause to the plumbing system. Of course, we’ve done these things plenty of times, but did you know such small acts can lead to huge losses?

Tossing food items, cat litter, paper wipes, towels, and other solid items can clog up your drain and cause structural damage to your plumbing system. And once this happens, you’ll have to spend thousands of dollars repairing the system for proper functioning.

Clogged drains are just the tip of the iceberg beneath, lurking plenty of danger that homeowners aren’t aware of. That’s why we decided to put together a guide on the damages that clogged drains can result in.

So, keep reading!

6 Worst Types Of Damage From A Clogged Drainage

Pipeline Blockage

1. Overflowing Of Water

When you thrust food items, grease, hair, and other items down the sink, it’s likely to clog the drains of your home. As a result, you may face flooding or overflowing water, as it has no space to pass through.

This likely happens when your drain has been blocked for quite some time, and you made no effort to unclog it. And honestly, nothing is more terrible than dealing with overflowing toilets, sinks, or bathtubs.

Also, visible flooding is more straightforward to fix than hidden flooding, where the water flows elsewhere. Invisible flooding is challenging to detect but can result in severe damage, such as burst pipes.

It’s important to note that repairing a burst pipe is more costly than fixing an overflowing drain because it is usually located inside a wall or underneath the ground.

2. Structural Damage

If you’ve been ignoring the gurgling sounds from your drain, be prepared for the worst because clogged drains can cause severe structural damage. When water doesn’t get space for draining, it starts leaking, creating havoc inside the plumbing lines.

Detecting leaks inside the system is difficult and may take ages. However, if you notice a leak under a sink or water in the kitchen cabinet, you shouldn’t ignore it. Instead, you should call a professional immediately because it’s essential to detect the source of the leak to get it fixed.

3. Pest Infestations

Damage Blocked Drains Pests

Surely, you may keep every nook and cranny of your home clean to prevent pests from invading the space. But if your drain is clogged, these nasty little critters will attack and settle in your home.

Food, grease, hair, and other particles trapped in your drain serve as organic pest feed. And since they love humid places, they settle in them and spread diseases.

Of course, there’s no better way to prevent pest infestation than maintaining your drain and unclogging it as and when required. Since they are drawn to leftover food particles, you should keep your sink pipe clean using DIY solutions or chemicals available on the market.

Some pests that may invade your home are centipedes, cockroaches, silverfish, fruit flies and ants.

4. Bacteria And Microbes

Clogged drains are a nuisance to your home and detrimental to your health. When water gets clogged in the drain, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause allergies and other severe health issues.

E. coli, salmonella, typhoid, campylobacter, staph, legionella and legionnaires are diseases that occur because of a clogged drain. When you leave a clogged drain untreated, bacteria start thriving in the cosy space and attacking children, older people and other members, making them sick.

5. Toxic Gases

Your plumbing system contains a toxic blend of human waste, decaying food particles, chemical cleaners, stagnant water and other items. Of course, when your drain is well-maintained, it functions properly and protects your family from the poisonous gases released by the unpleasant stuff down the drain.

Unfortunately, these gases enter your home when your sewer drain starts clogging. Indeed, you may think of getting a drain cleaner from the local store to eliminate the musty smell, but we suggest you avoid doing so. That’s because drain cleaners are stuffed with dangerous chemicals such as peracetic acid, chloroform, chloramine, and chlorine gas that do more harm than good.

In such cases, you should avoid taking the DIY route and call a professional who will detect the root cause of the issue and fix it skillfully.

6. Mould

Mould Bathroom Clogged Drain

Few people know that clogged drains or pipes can grow mould at home.

Since mould thrives in wet, damp and humid conditions, clogged drains provide the ideal environment for their growth. And if you notice mould growth in your home, search for leaks because there’s likely a clogged pipe leaking in the wall.

Though you may use DIY hacks to remove mould, you should contact a professional plumber immediately. It is crucial to detect the leaking pipe and have it repaired immediately; only then will you eliminate mould infestation from your home.

Indeed, it affects the beauty of your home, but it can also lead to serious health issues, which are as follows:

  • Lung irritation
  • Skin rash
  • Coughing and sneezing
  • Headaches
  • Wheezing
  • Eyes, nose and throat irritation

Tips For Preventing a Blocked Drain

With plenty of stuff to take care of, the last thing you’d want to do is call a plumber to unclog your drain. We’ve mentioned some tips that you can follow to keep your drain clog-free.

  • Pour grease or oil into a container and dump it in the garbage
  • Throw potato skin, coffee grounds, banana peels and other food scraps in the garbage
  • Collect soap scum, hair and other gunk on the drain stoppers and throw them in the bin
  • Flushing paper products down the toilet drain is a big no-no!
  • Install drain screens on all the drains of your home
  • Never dump paint thinner in the kitchen or bathroom sink

Understand The Harm of Drain Blockages

On that note, it’s finally time to wrap up today’s guide on the topic.

Whether in the toilet or kitchen, clogged drains are troublesome for every homeowner, so they should be dealt with immediately. They can wreak havoc on your property if left untreated for a long time.

To repair them, you’ll have to shell out thousands of dollars, which you can avoid by preventing clogs in the first place.

We suggest you refrain from taking the DIY route to fix clogged drains because it may aggravate the issue. That is why we recommend calling a professional plumber so you can rest easy while they take care of your plumbing system.

WP Plumbing’s experienced local plumbers in Melbourne have the equipment and skills to unblock even the most stubborn clogs. Reach out to us today!

Before we sign off, here’s a last piece of advice: contact a licensed plumber to tackle your plumbing issues and read reviews online before booking one. And that’s it for today; bye, folks!

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