How do I know if I have a blocked drain?
Frequently Asked Questions
Drains can block for many different reasons. It could start as a partial block which will likely lead to a full block sooner than later. More often than not, whatever is obstructing one drain will be isolated to that fixture – a bathroom sink, for example. If all the drains in the house are affected, it could be an issue with the main drain. The blocked drain could also have a particular odour or sound as it attempts to drain.
How do I know if my sink drain is blocked?
Water from the tap won’t go down the drain. It will start to pool at the bottom of the sink, taking longer and longer to go down the drain until it stops completely. If there is a full blockage, wastewater will back up into the sink. If the sink is partially plugged, you may hear a gurgling sound as wastewater tries to drain past the obstruction and lets in air.
How do I know if my shower drain is blocked?
Water won’t go down the drain. It will fill the base of the shower, the bathtub, or the shower room edge until it overflows.
How do I know if my toilet drain is blocked?
The toilet won’t flush. Water will overflow the toilet bowl or tank, and it may come out from under the fixture onto the floor around it. You may smell a sewage odour.
How do I know if my dishwasher drain is blocked?
Water will back up into the dishwasher and won’t drain away.
How do I know if my washing machine drain is blocked?
The washing machine pumps used water from the wash and rinse cycle out of the machine into a utility/laundry sink. If this sink drain is plugged, dirty water collects in the bottom of the sink and may overflow unless the machine is shut off. Sometimes the drain can plug and start to fill if an object or cloth falls into the sink, blocking the top of the drain and preventing wastewater from exiting.
How do I know if my garburator is blocked?
A garburator can plug up if there is not enough water in it while it is running. If it is grinding without water, it will block. Blockages can also occur depending on the size of the item that goes into it. It’s advisable to cut up larger items into bite-sized pieces. Also, don’t put any non-food items into it. Avoid bones, grease, pasta, rice, and more. A garburator is not a good idea if you’re on a septic system. If you’re thinking of purchasing a garburator, check with your municipality first, as some cities do not allow them to be installed.
Why does my drain stink?
Smelly drains can indicate a potential problem. While the smell of sewage could affect any drain, the most common source is the bathroom toilet. It could be the result of a blocked drain pipe or blocked vent. In addition, if the water in the trap dries up from lack of use, sewer gas will rise. This can occur in a floor drain in the basement, a shower, or a sink that is used infrequently.
Some fixtures, such as the bathroom sink, will smell because of a buildup of hair, toothpaste, and soap. A kitchen sink drain may smell like rotten food. If there is a leak in the plumbing and it has been going on long enough or is hidden, mold could grow to create a musty smell.
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Why does my drain block?
Any drain will block if there is an obstruction. That can mean anything from tree roots to needles and syringes, dental floss, wipes, toys from a child or dog, food bits and fats, coffee grounds, sanitary products, and more. Hair, soap, and toothpaste can create an ugly green or black sludge that will start plugging the drain too.
Beyond obstructions, a drain can block if the plumbing vent is plugged with leaves and debris, snow or ice, or, on occasion by a small bird that become trapped. If the vent blocks, the sewer gas cannot escape, and it cannot regulate air in the plumbing fixtures. The vent runs from the fixtures and connects them to a stack that runs through the roof to allow the sewer gas to escape.
Those who live in chilly climates may have a drain located on an under-insulated exterior wall or crawl space. The drain can freeze if wind chills contribute to freezing temperatures. The drain freezes the wastewater, effectively blocking the pipe until it is thawed. There could be issues with the drain if there is not enough fall in the pipe. The drainpipe needs to slope downhill from the source.
Crushed stones, roots, and other debris could be in the exterior drain pipe from when it was originally backfilled. Tree roots may have grown into the pipe in search of water as they grow.
How can I prevent my drain from blocking?
Clogged drains, particularly repeat offenders, are most often the result of a buildup of food, grease, hair, toilet paper, or other items you may think are flushable but are not. It’s best to keep ‘garbage’ where it belongs, and it’s not down the toilet. Some examples include tissues, wipes, napkins, diapers, cat litter, and hygiene products.
Use toilet paper only in the toilet. Don’t flush anything else down the toilet. Make sure the kitchen sink drain is gravity fed unless there is a drain pump attached to it. Keep food bits and grease, and fats out of the sink. Grease, for example, may be liquid at warmer temperatures but can solidify when cooled and block the drain pipe. Flush water through the drains from time to time.
What should I do if I have a blocked drain?
Check every drain to see if there is a blockage on more than one fixture or if all the drains in the house are impacted. This also applies if the wastewater is slow to drain, makes noises such as gurgling, gulps, or smells like sewage.
Don’t run any water on any drain that is blocked. Your initial investigation will help to point out where the obstruction is located. For instance, if all drains are affected, it could mean an obstruction in the main drain line inside the house or outside the house leading to the municipal sewer line or septic system.
