That Slow-Draining Sink Isn’t Just Annoying—It’s a Warning Sign
If a sink, tub or shower in your house is draining more slowly than usual, your first instinct might be to ignore it. It might not seem very important as long as the drain isn’t entirely stopped up. You might even hope that the problem will take of itself.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen. In fact, drain problems tend to get worse instead of better when they are ignored. They could lead to costly repairs, and there could be long-term damage to your pipes or even your home’s structure. Water stagnating in your clogged drains can also be a health issue.
What Causes A Slow-Draining Sink or Tub?
Pouring grease down your drains or dropping small items like an earring into your drain can cause a blockage, but so can everyday usage. Soap, toothpaste and other substances you normally rinse down the drain can build up over time. It can also be difficult to keep hair out of drains.
Sometimes the problem is outside of your house. Plumbing vents can get blocked by leaves and twigs. Pipes may be damaged when tree roots grow into them. This can also lead to slow draining and eventual blockage.
Risk #1: Bigger Clogs Are Brewing
The reason something like hair in your drain is a problem is that it can catch in your pipes and become a place where debris gathers and grows into a bigger clog. Washing a little bit of food down the drain may not seem like a problem, but it can hit a patch of soap scum or grease, and there can be additional accumulation. Unfortunately, small clogs don’t get smaller.
Risk #2: Water Damage and Leaks
Clogs in your sink create pressure that has to be released somewhere, and that pressure release could mean cracks in your pipes. This can result in water damage that you might not discover for some time. If your pipes don’t leak, you’re still not safe from damage. Water can get backed up and overflow, flooding your home.
Risk #3: Mold and Mildew Growth
You can get mold and mildew growth in addition to or instead of leaks, and it can be just as damaging. Like water damage, mold and mildew damage can also go undiscovered and may cause rot and damage to your home’s structure. Mold and mildew can also cause breathing and other respiratory problems and can make allergies worse.
Risk #4: Nasty Odors in Your Home
Bacteria flourishes in clogged drains, and that in turn causes unpleasant odors. As with mold and mildew, bad odors can irritate your respiratory system. If your drains are smelly, don’t assume that you just need lemon or vinegar to get rid of the smell. If there’s been a buildup of substances in your drain leading to a clog, you need drain clearing to get rid of it and the odor it’s causing.
Risk #5: Strain on Your Plumbing System
Even if a full clog doesn’t develop in your pipes, slow draining can wear on them. As material builds up inside your pipes, they may weaken, rust or corrode.
Risk #6: Higher Utility Bills Over Time
You might not realize that clogged drains can also cause inefficient use of water and higher bills, but if you’ve ever run more water in an effort to knock out a clog, this is one way it can happen. You might even use up more hot water as this is sometimes a suggested remedy for clogs. This may not seem like much water waste, but it can build up over time. Clogged pipes may also affect water pressure, leading you to run more water in order to compensate. Finally, hidden leaks can drive up your water bill.
Risk #7: Emergency Repairs and Inconvenience
Ignoring clogged drains can eventually lead to consequences that range from having a sink or tub that is completely unusable to burst pipes, floods and sewer backups. Not only are these emergencies, but they can happen at the most inconvenient times—nights, weekends or holidays, when getting a plumber out in a hurry is even more difficult and expensive than during business hours. These emergencies are stressful for everyone involved.
When to Call a Plumber—and Why Sooner is Better
Small problems—and small clogs—can turn into big problems if they aren’t addressed. When you call a plumber as soon as you notice that you have a slow-draining sink, tub or shower, they can take care of it on a schedule for drain clearing that works for you. The repairs are likely to be smaller in scale, less disruptive and less expensive. Waiting to get your plumbing fixed can mean higher water bills, health hazards and potentially serious damage to your home.
Don’t Wait for a Bigger Mess
Slow drains can be smelly, unsanitary, and frustrating, but they have the potential to cause a lot more trouble than that. Mold, mildew, corroded or cracked pipes, water damage and sewage backups are just a few of the consequences if you don’t get help when you notice a problem. Before you know it, you could have an emergency on your hands.
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we can fix your slow-draining sink or tub. We also offer a guarantee that we’ll arrive on time. If there’s any delay, it’s you we pay! Contact us today for expert, dependable drain clearing and other plumbing services.