A clogged drain is a nuisance, but it can also lead to leaks in your Lexington, KY plumbing system. If left unaddressed, these leaks can cause extensive water damage to your home. Our team at Pipe Surgeon Plumbing can assist with preventing and addressing drain clogs to reduce your risk of leaks that require drain repair.
A Buildup of Pressure
A clog prevents water and waste from being able to flow freely through your drains and pipes. When this occurs, there is a risk of pressure building up inside your plumbing system. This pressure can lead to very small holes or cracks in your pipes, which leak water. In extreme cases, the pressure can cause pipes to burst. In a matter of seconds, you can have water damage impact flooring, walls, ceilings, and belongings.
Diversion of Water
When something is blocking your drain or pipes, water or waste may inadvertently reroute to another area of your plumbing system. This can lead to damage to your home and plumbing system and pose an unhealthy situation for you and your family.
Premature Pipe Corrosion
If the debris in your pipes is corrosive, you can experience damage to their interior. This can lead to leaks as pipe material breaks down over time.
Breakdown of Seals, Joints, and Connections
A drain clog can break down the integrity of things like plumbing seals, connecting joints, and other connections. Water can seep through these areas and allow water to accumulate on the surface of your pipes, on the floor, or seep into ceilings.
There is also the potential for these components to break down as water diverts through areas where it doesn’t normally move to. This type of damage is challenging, as leaks tend to be small and unnoticeable at first.
Preventing Clogged Drains
There are several ways you can prevent drain clogs, avoiding leaks in your home. We recommend that you schedule a routine inspection of your plumbing system once per year. Our team will inspect connections, pipes, and other components for corrosion, wear, and damage that raise your risk of a clog. We can make repairs that provide long-lasting protection against leaks.
Preventive drain cleaning is beneficial on a yearly basis. This process uses special equipment, such as augers, drain snakes, or high-pressure water, to remove any built-up debris. We recommend that you avoid using store-bought drain cleaners as a DIY method of preventing clogs. These products usually contain very caustic chemicals that can cause corrosion and damage to pipes. They are also dangerous to your health.
Be careful of what you put down your drains. Avoid putting large food scraps, grease, oils, or bones down your kitchen drain or garbage disposal. Only flush biodegradable materials and waste down your toilets. Don’t put wipes, cotton balls, paper towels, or tissues down your toilets.
Use a drain trap to prevent hair from going down pipes in showers and bathtubs. Soap scum can also cause drain problems. Drain covers can also prevent soap scum from going down your drains and accumulating.
Address hard water, which can narrow the opening of your pipes and drains over time. A water softener is a great way to remove hard minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Spotting Drain Clogs
Aside from visible water indicating a leak, there are other signs that point to a potential drain clog. Listen to gurgling sounds inside your drains. This often means debris and air are getting trapped in your pipes. There may also be bad odors coming up from your drains if clogs are forming inside.
Slow drainage requires prompt attention. You don’t want to risk backflow or have contaminated waste material coming back up into your sinks, tubs, and showers. If you’re experiencing sewer clogs and leaks, there may be luscious green spots on your lawn or pooling water nearby.
A routine plumbing inspection can spot drain clogs early. We can use specialized camera equipment to see into the depths of your plumbing system. Not only does this help us spot clogs, but we can also check for corrosion and other internal problems.
We here at Pipe Surgeon Plumbing are dedicated to helping you with every aspect of your plumbing system. This includes preventive drain cleaning, inspections of your plumbing system, emergency leak repair, and more. Contact us at Pipe Surgeon Plumbing for more information or to schedule an appointment in Lexington.
