Maintain Your Drain: 4 Common Questions About Drain Maintenance
1. Why do my pipes get clogged?
Your home’s drain system is designed to discharge water from your plumbing fixtures to the city sewers. Over time, obstructions can build up in the pipes and cause a clog. For example, many homeowners will rinse their kitchen grease down the drain. However, the oil eventually hardens into a sticky resin and creates a backup. This can also happen with other food items like pasta and potato peels, which accumulate in the plumbing system. Here’s a condensed list of other familiar products that should never be rinsed down a drain or flushed:
- Bacon grease
- Cotton balls or swabs
- Dental floss
- Baby wipes
- Feminine products
- Cat litter
- Any item that is not water-soluble
For environmental reasons, do not dispose of medication, paint, or crank oil down your drains. Check out this extended list for more frequently-flushed items that could potentially damage your pipes.
2. How do I know if my drains need maintenance?
Your sinks and toilets will show you when they need attention – several symptoms will develop that require some sort of intervention:
Slow draining
If you find that you are waiting extra seconds (or even minutes) for the water to drain out of your tub or sink, it may be a sign that there’s a severe clog. Partial clogs collect more debris and eventually become full clogs – without service these clogs tends to get worse and can cause damage.
Unusual noises
Plumbing problems often come associated with a gurgling sound due to inconsistent airflow within the pipes. If you notice any strange sounds coming from your drain, it could be a blockage.
Puddles in yard
Typically only signs of severe sewer issues, pooling and water flow near the foundation of your home, basement, or curb vent on the street are all reasons for immediate drain remediation. This water backup is incredibly unsanitary as it carries lingering bacteria and can cause health hazards.
3. How often should I get my drains serviced?
Homeowners should be aware of the normal sights and sounds that go along with your home plumbing. This is the first step to recognizing if and when your drain needs to be serviced. Annual sewer maintenance is generally all that’s needed. However, if you notice any of the above signs, it’s essential to get your plumbing system the proper care before there’s a main sewer clog. Multiple regular drain clogs throughout the home and the pools of water mentioned above are typically the first indicators of a problem.
Homeowners that postpone routine upkeep may experience expensive remediation fees. At a minimum, you will have to replace minor plumbing fixtures in your home. But, symptoms like water damage transcend surface-level hardware issues. Severe backups create a significant sanitation concern as sewage overloads your system. Overflowing toilets, incurring mold, warped floorboards, and burst pipes are just a handful of problems that can plague your household should you neglect responsibility.
4. What is the process for cleaning my drain?
Our technicians at Benditt Mechanical will most likely start by diagnosing the operation of your drain system. This will give us a starting point to best correct your drain problem.
Most residential sewer clogs can be cleared with standard cabling or water jetting. Video inspection of your drain problem will identify why you have a problem. As previously stated, scheduled at-home drain maintenance can mean the difference between a simple clog and a plumbing disaster. But it’s up to the members of your household to productively keep your drains free of debris.
Benditt Mechanical Offers Drain Maintenance and Servicing in Philadelphia
Sufficient, timely drain service when needed is crucial to preventing any pipe system from water damage or becoming a health hazard. The team at Benditt Mechanical will enthusiastically answer any questions regarding your home’s need for drain servicing and expertly tend to any tasks. Contact our team today to learn more about the drain services and plumbing we offer in Metro Philadelphia, Delaware County, Southern Montgomery County, and Eastern Chester County.
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