Understanding Blocked Drains, Sewers and Toilets
There is nothing bad like a blocked drain, sewer or toilet because it means that there is a huge likelihood that raw sewage might leak and find its way to your front yard or backyard and leave an ugly sight and foul air.
It is also likely that the raw sewage may flow back into your house through the toilet, bathroom drain or sink drain; something known as backflow. You do not want this to happen; it is disgusting, unhygienic, unsightly and you won't be able to bear the smell.
How Do You Avoid the Severe Effects of Blockages?
The answer is simple: keep an eye out for the early signs of blockage formation. What are these signs?
- You might notice slow draining sinks and toilets
- You may see water pooling at your feet in the bathroom, which is an indication of slow draining as well
- You might notice a weak foul smell in your bathroom or from the air in your front yard or backyard, etc.
What Do You Do?
For slow drains in your sink, toilet or bathroom, try some home remedies first. Baking soda, caustic cleaners and hot water are known to clear small blockages. Plungers are also effective for less severe blockages. If these remedies do not work, contact a qualified and licensed plumber.
Don't make the mistake of contacting an unlicensed plumber because most of the time they might not be competent or insured. If they damage your plumbing because of their incompetence, you are left to bear the expenses.
A licensed plumber is experienced enough to first inspect or examine your plumbing materials. This helps them know whether the method to be used to dislodge the blockage might damage the plumbing. For example, some plumbing materials like plastic might get damaged if you use snake wire.
Other materials including plastic might also have a maximum pressure they can hold, meaning that if you use a hydro-jet, you have to check on the maximum pressure the plumbing pipes can withstand and set the hydro-jet to lower pressure. Exceeding this maximum pressure might cause damage or even void any warranty provided for your plumbing.
Cost of Unblocking Drain Pipes
Of course, the cost of unblocking a drain depends on the amount of work to be done. A simple blockage is, therefore, going to cost much less than a persistent/severe blockage.
Some blockages might even require your plumber to dig into the ground and access plumbing pipes; such work might cost extra.
For more information on blocked sewer drains and toilets, reach out to a local plumber.