Most people don’t think twice about their drains until trouble strikes. Drains seem to work effortlessly to remove wastewater from your home, and their issues start out small, but they balloon into serious problems quite quickly. If you know the warning signs, you can stop trouble in its tracks and protect your home, health, and wallet from major damage.

Slow Draining Throughout the House

Almost every homeowner experiences a clog in a sink or a tub from grease, soap scum, or other debris that causes water to move slower. However, it is abnormal for all the drains in the house to slow down. It usually means the main line has a partial blockage.

As soon as this happens, you need expert help. This problem is only going to worsen, and the water will eventually not drain at all.

Strange Sounds From the Pipes

You should never hear a lot of noise when water drains. Gurgling or bubbling sounds let you know there is trouble. These sounds are the result of air being trapped in the pipes, which means that you have a clog or a venting problem with your plumbing. The longer you put off addressing the problem, the more you’ll strain your pipes.

Unpleasant Odors That Won’t Go Away

Drains can sometimes develop bad odors; however, they normally go away after you clean them with soap and water. If bad smells linger no matter what you try, you have a much bigger problem. This usually means that waste is not moving properly but building up inside your pipes.

While the smell may be strongest in the kitchen sink, the real issue is with your sewer line. Bad odors not only make your living environment unpleasant, but they also cause safety hazards. Breathing in sewage can cause lung trouble over time.

Water Backing Up in Odd Places

Wastewater showing up where it doesn’t belong is a clear sign that your drains are in serious trouble. For instance, if you flush the toilet, but wastewater shows up in the bathtub, a clog is deep in your pipes, hindering proper flow.

This inconvenient backup can also be a serious safety issue. It exposes you and your family to raw sewage, which can be dangerous to breathe in or touch. Before you know it, a full overflow can occur, and you will contend with thousands of dollars in property damage. If mold develops, repair costs will increase because you will need mold remediation as well as plumbing repairs.

Puddles and Wet Spots in the Yard

The warning signs can even show up outside. For instance, if you notice standing water or soggy patches in your yard even during dry weather, your sewer line may be leaking underground. Sometimes, your grass can look greener and thicker in a particular area. What seems like a small patch of healthy growth could be a broken pipe letting waste seep down into the soil, thus inadvertently providing fertilizer.

Knowing what to look for will enable you to get help before a drain issue escalates. If you notice any of these warning signs in your Cedar Rapids, IA home, call the team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for drain cleaning now, and we will help you protect your home, health, and wallet.