Blocked Drain Health Risks

Introduction: The Hidden Dangers of Blocked Drains

Neglecting a blocked drain is a grave oversight with significant health, property, and financial repercussions. While it may begin as a trivial annoyance, a blocked drain can rapidly evolve into a critical problem.

When water cannot flow properly, a blocked stormwater drain can lead to backflow into pipes, resulting in flooding, water damage, mould proliferation, and unpleasant smells. Beyond being a nuisance, blocked drains can foster bacterial growth and attract insects with their foul odours. These unsanitary conditions pose serious risks to your health and well-being.

A blocked drain puts excess strain on your plumbing system. The added pressure from a blockage in your drain can lead to burst pipes, damaged drains, and costly repairs. As clogs intensify, symptomatic gurgling, foul odours, and sluggish drainage emerge.

Tree roots, grease, hair, and other particles can become lodged in pipes, causing blockages that intensify over time.

Ignoring blocked drains can lead to extensive property damage. Flood-related consequences include undermining structural integrity, triggering electrical faults, and destroying valuables.

Professional drain cleaning services can diagnose and safely remove the blockage, preventing additional complications.

Ignoring a blocked drain risks your family’s health and could damage your home. At the first sign of a clog, it’s prudent to hire a professional plumber for a swift resolution. Engaging in preventative drain care can help avoid future issues.

Causes of Drain Blockages

Cooking oils from your kitchen adhering to and accumulating on pipe interiors create grease buildup, a leading cause of drain blockages. Persistent grease accumulation can prevent water from flowing and possibly result in a complete drain clog.

Blocked drains often result from hair, soap scum, and other debris combining to form obstructions. Hair clogs shower drains and sinks, together with soap residues, while uncaught food particles can further block drainage.

Invasive tree roots near external pipes or a cracked sewer line allow roots to enter and grow inside the drainage system. Roots that continue to grow lead to serious pipe breakages and render water unable to flow. Tree root intrusion is a serious issue that requires professional drain repair when water unable to flow freely through the pipes.

Cracked, broken, or misaligned drain pipes allow sediments and solids to build up and cause a clog. Older or damaged pipes are prone to obstructions and may need replacement to restore proper drainage. Signs of pipe damage that can result in serious issues include leaks, slow drainage and recurring blockages.

Buildup of Sediment and Minerals

Regular drain cleaning is essential to prevent sediment, rust, and mineral deposits from accumulating and causing blockages, which is especially common in old pipes or in areas with hard water.

Contact our team at the first signs of drain trouble to ascertain the cause and address it promptly, preventing plumbing emergencies and property damage.

Grease Buildup

When grease is poured down the kitchen sink, it sticks and accumulates on the inside of pipes. Over time, thick deposits of grease severely limit water flow and often cause a complete clog.

Washing cookware with grease residues also results in considerable volumes making their way down your drains. The grease sticks to the pipe walls as it moves through the plumbing system, eventually hardening and narrowing your pipes.

To avoid a grease-related clog, never pour fats, oils and grease down the sink. Scrape plates and cookware thoroughly before washing to remove greasy residue. Using sink strainers can also catch food scraps before they go down the drain.

A safe disposal method is pouring grease into an empty can, letting it harden and throwing it in the bin.

Grease buildup is a preventable drain blocker. By changing a few kitchen habits, you can ensure they don’t contribute to blockages and your pipes stay clear, avoiding plumbing disasters.

Hair and Debris

Hair from bathroom and kitchen sinks is a major contributor to drain clogs. Strands of hair can clump together and get tangled in pipe joints, severely restricting water flow. Over time, thick mats of hair accumulate and lead to a complete blockage.

Debris can include items like soap scum, food scraps, and innocuous objects such as cotton swabs. As these materials collect, they trap more hair and particles. Small bathroom items, often foreign objects accidentally dropped down the drain, are another preventable cause of obstructions.

Using sink drain guards and catchers safeguards your drainage system, blocking hair and debris from entering your pipes. These devices act as a barrier, trapping hair before it goes down the drain while letting water pass through. Regularly emptying and cleaning drain guards can clear blocked pathways and help prevent clog-causing buildup.

Hair and other debris drain blockages are simple to avoid. By making small changes to your bathroom and kitchen habits, you can keep your drains free-flowing and avoid plumbing disasters caused by accumulated gunk clogging your pipes.

Tree Roots

One of the most damaging causes of drain blockages is intrusive tree roots.

In areas with mature trees, like the Gold Coast, roots can readily intrude into cracked or compromised sewer pipes. As the roots grow, they can serious expand and exert force against the inside of drainage pipes, eventually breaking through pipes and fully blocking water flow.

Tree roots are attracted to leaks and cracks in external drainage pipes that allow moisture to seep in from the soil. Once inside your sewer pipes, root systems will continue spreading and thickening as they seek more water.

This neglect can eventually compromise the structural integrity of pipe joints, leading to breakages. Complete blockages can form as entangled roots fill the drainage line.

Removing tree roots requires professional drain cleaning services.

Using methods like a drain snake or chemicals for root removal offers only a temporary fix. Specialised techniques like high-pressure hydrojetting and mechanical cutting are necessary to thoroughly clear root blockages and prevent regrowth.

For a permanent solution, hiring professional for trenchless pipe relining can reinforce your pipes and provide a protective barrier against future root damage. Epoxy resin is used to coat the interior pipe walls, sealing cracks and preventing roots from penetrating. Relined pipes are structurally reinforced, which stops breakages plus realigning joints.

Unchecked, invasive tree roots can precipitate severe pipe corrosion, sewage backups, and total drainage system failure. Contact our team for professional root removal and pipe relining to restore your drainage pipes.

Pipe Damage

Damaged and deteriorating pipes are major contributors to drain blockages, where accumulated debris can eventually lead to complete water flow obstruction.

Cracks, leaks, and misalignments in pipes permit the gradual accretion of sediment, grease, and debris.

Signs of pipe damage include diminished water pressure, gurgling noises, bad smells, and water accumulation around drains. Leaky joints can become entry points for tree roots, worsening as they expand, while parts of broken or crushed pipes snag passing debris.

Replacing corroded galvanised, clay or cast iron pipes is often necessary to resolve drainage issues.

Contact us for trenchless pipe relining, a cleaning service that reinforces damaged pipes without trenches, as it uses epoxy resin to seal interior cracks and gaps that commonly trap debris.

Catching pipe damage early allows for less invasive and affordable solutions. Regular drain inspections help spot warning signs before blockages occur. Reach out to us today for meticulous drain and pipe assessments.

Act quickly on minor clogs to prevent them from becoming full blockages, as pipe leaks will invariably deteriorate over time.

Signs of a Blocked Drain

There are numerous warning signs that suggest your drain is clogged and requires cleaning:

• Situations where water can pool around drains or back up from sinks/tubs
• Gurgling noises from pipes as water tries passing through
• Foul sewage odours coming from drains
• Toilets that are slow to drain or overflow
• Sinks/tubs that are slow to drain
• Stagnant dirty water in sinks/tubs that takes long to go down
• Reduced water pressure in showers and taps

Choosing professional drain cleaning services instead of DIY solutions can prevent exacerbating the blockage.

For drainage issues, engaging our technicians with the specialised tools required to diagnose and clear your blocked drain effectively is wise. Prompt action reduces the risk of plumbing damage and health hazards from bacterial growth. When you notice any signs of blockage, immediately hiring a professional plumber is advisable.

Health Risks of Blocked Drains

Untreated clogged drains can present grave health risks. Stagnant water provides the ideal breeding ground for dangerous bacteria, mould, and viruses, which can also lead to serious health issues.

Sewage backup allows disease-causing pathogens like E.coli, Salmonella, and norovirus access into your home. These can contaminate surfaces and cause gastrointestinal illness through contact or airborne transmission. Weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.

As debris accumulates, drainage pipes become overrun with microbial growth. Mould spores enter indoor air through drains and vents, triggering allergic reactions and asthma flare-ups. Prolonged mould exposure may lead to respiratory infections.

Blocked drains also attract cockroaches, rats, and other vermin carrying infectious diseases. Bites and droppings from these pests can spread infections. Venomous spiders and snakes may enter homes seeking refuge in moist, clogged drains.

Addressing these unsanitary conditions is paramount, and it’s important to shield your home business from associated risks. Children, the elderly, and individuals with existing health conditions are more susceptible to health risks from blocked drains. Swift professional drain cleaning removes blockages before extensive health consequences arise.

Property Damage from Blocked Drains

Overlooking a blocked drain can culminate in extensive and costly damage to your property. When drains are clogged, water can back up and rapidly flood your property. Even minor flooding from drain backups can result in substantial repair costs.

Flooding from clogged drains can deeply affect your home’s integrity, potentially causing your floorboards to warp, damage to drywall, trigger electrical faults, and spoil carpets and furnishings. Waterlogged walls become a breeding ground for mould, which is difficult and expensive to eradicate. Lingering moisture also attracts termites and other pests.

The added pressure of drainage water trying to push through a clogged pipe can also cause pipes to burst or shift. This can cause serious foundational structural damage as soil erodes around displaced pipes. Using a plumbing service swiftly upon spotting a blockage is crucial to prevent severe damage to your property.

Preventing Blocked Drains

Effective strategies to prevent blocked drains include maintaining regular upkeep and being vigilant of daily habits. The following practical approaches ensure a smooth flow of water:

• Install drain screens/guards in sinks and shower drains to catch hair and debris, preventing them from entering the pipes.
• Avoid pouring fats, oils and grease down the sink. Let cool and dispose in the bin instead.
• Consider using a monthly mixture of baking soda and hot water to dissolve organic matter and prevent buildup.
• Flush drains weekly by running hot water for a few minutes to push through loose debris.
• Only flush toilet paper and human waste down toilets to minimise clogs.
• Don’t use harsh chemical drain cleaners which can damage pipes.
• Keep tree roots away by repairing cracks in external drainage pipes.
• Clean gutters and downpipes regularly to prevent leaf litter blocking drains.

Contact Petersham Plumbing at jobs@petershamplumbingservices.com.au or 1300 349 338 for professional drain inspections, repairs, and cleaning. Preventative maintenance is critical to elude expensive plumbing emergencies caused by blocked drains.