If there’s one plumbing issue pretty much every homeowner is going to have to deal with sooner or later, it’s a clogged pipe. Sometimes, a clog in your plumbing system can be easy to spot, and even fairly simple to get rid of. Other times, you might have to hire a professional plumber to get to the source of the issue. Keep reading to learn the top five signs of a clogged pipe, and for all your plumbing service needs, remember to call on our expert team at All Pro All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric.
5 Signs You Are Dealing with a Clogged Pipe
- Sudden Changes in Water Pressure: Have you gotten into the shower recently and noticed that the water pressure is off? This is a common sign that there is a blockage in your drainage system that is affecting the usual flow of water. While cracking and breakage in the line can eventually occur, the first thing you should do if you suddenly experience weak water pressure is to hire a plumber to locate the obstruction, before it can cause more serious issues.
- Unexpected Back-Ups: A toilet clog is usually fairly easy to spot, and often easy to get rid of on your own, assuming you have a working plunger/drain snake. But if your toilet or shower drain has recently started to overflow when you run the washing machine or use other household appliances, it could be due to a clog in your pipes (likely in a sewage line.) When water tries to leave your plumbing system but is blocked by a clog, it will have no other place to go, and may back up in unexpected places as a result. Water may also start to back up when you hear a gurgling sound coming from your drains, speaking of which…
- Odd Noises: If the water in your shower or drain tub starts to gurgle after you flush the toilet, that often means there is a clog blocking the flow of water, which is why it’s backing up at the lowest points in your shower drain. You may also notice a slow trickling sound if there is a blockage in your pipes, indicating water is trying to make its way around a clog. Regardless, odd noises coming from your plumbing system are rarely a good sign, so it is a smart idea to call a plumber if this is happening in your home.
- Strange Smells: When a pipe gets clogged, all the usual debris that goes down it will get stuck in the line. This can include food, hair, or any other nasty solids. As these solids decompose, you will likely notice a nasty odor wafting out of your drain openings. This type of smell coming from your kitchen sink, shower, bathtub, or toilet is never a good sign, and if you cannot locate the source of the clog on your own, you should promptly call a professional.Watch out for a rotten egg-like odor too, as this may indicate a leak in a gas line, but may also stem from an obstruction in your sewage pipes.
- Slow Drainage: When a drain pipe gets clogged, you may find that your bathtub, toilet, or sink is taking longer to drain than usual. The average time it should take for water to drain is a few seconds, so you will likely notice this type of issue fairly quickly. Slow drainage is often accompanied by one or more of the other signs listed above, but even on its own, this issue merits further investigation, as it only takes one clog to cause a drainage problem.
Need help getting rid of a clog in one of your pipes? Call All Pro All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric at (909) 500-8193, or contact us online.
