You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the pipes in your home unless there is a clog or a leak. However, being proactive when it comes to cleaning your drains on a regular basis can help to minimize the risk of leaks, clogs, or other issues that can result in expensive repairs.
Common Causes of Drain Clogs
Each day, you put a lot of material into your sink and bathtub drains whether you realize it or not. For instance, when you wash your hair in the morning, a small amount may detach from your scalp and find its way down your drain. You may also remove hair from your head while brushing it or simply running your hands through it while getting ready, which can end up in your sink and eventually go down the drain.
Furthermore, you also put soap, toothpaste, and shampoo into sink or tub drains each day. Over time, this material will break down into a sort of sludge that coats the lining of your sink or tub drain.
Of course, the bathroom is just one room with drains that can clog if not maintained. For instance, it is also fairly common for grease, scraps of food from your plate, or other items to make their way down the kitchen sink. These items can turn drains into a sticky mess if not cleaned well.
Sediment can accumulate in drains and pipes throughout the house, which can cause slow drains or completely block the path of anything moving through them. Sediment can also cause physical damage to pipes or other components of your home’s plumbing system. Therefore, it is critical to take action quickly if you think that sediment is a problem in your house.
Finally, a pipe may be damaged by a tree root that grew into it. If you have trees, shrubs, or anything else that has a root system that grows down and out, it may be best to move them. Furthermore, you are strongly encouraged to not plant anything near a sewer or any other type of drain line.
Try to Have Drains Cleaned Every Couple of Years
Ideally, you will have your drains cleaned every two or three years for best results. However, this does not mean you need to panic if you have gone 37 months since the last time you cleaned the shower drain or sewer line. Instead, it simply means that you should consider having this done as soon as possible.
The team at Perfect, Plumbing Heating & Air in Boise performs drain cleaning services in a timely and professional manner. Furthermore, we can use sensitive cameras to probe sewer or other drain lines for signs of damage or to determine what may be causing a slow drain or a complete blockage. If pipes are already cracked or otherwise damaged, our team can replace them so that your plumbing system works like new again.
Signs of a Damaged or Clogged Pipe
The only time that you absolutely need to have a pipe cleaned or serviced is if it showing signs of damage or other issues. In some cases, you will not have much notice before a pipe breaks or you see sewage backing up into the tub or kitchen sink. However, in many cases, you will have some warning that something is wrong, so you will need to act quickly.
A classic sign that something is amiss is the presence of sediment in the water that comes out of a faucet. Depending on the severity of the problem, you will see tiny chunks of rock coming out of a kitchen or bathroom faucet or in any other faucet you might use. It is also possible that the only sign of trouble is the fact that the water is a little grayer than usual.
If there is sediment in the water heater, you may notice problems with obtaining consistent water temperature or pressure throughout the house. Of course, water pressure issues or an inconsistent flow of water can also be caused by hair, soap, or other organic materials clogging a drain.
The Types of Problems That Can Be Avoided With Timely Cleanings
A common sign that you have a leaky pipe is an increase in your monthly water bill. Taking a proactive approach to cleaning your drains might enable you to catch the issue before you are forced to spend hundreds of dollars on water that you did not even use.
In addition, a water leak caused by a defective pipe could result in mold growing unchecked throughout your house. To get rid of the mold, you may need to cut away at interior walls, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars on its own. In addition, you will likely need to replace drywall, insulation, or anything else that is covered in it.
There is also a chance that termites, carpenter ants, or other insects may be attracted to the water that is pooling throughout your house. These bugs can eat away at wood, insulation, and other materials throughout your home, which can make it unsafe to live in. Ultimately, you may end up spending money to both repair your property and eradicate the pest issue.
It is not uncommon for water to make its way to the home’s foundation. In such a scenario, you risk foundation cracks or other serious issues that can cost $10,000 or more to repair. Just as with a pest issue, a cracked foundation can make your house unsafe to live in until the problem is remedied.
It is worth noting that damage caused by a broken pipe or another plumbing issue might actually be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. However, this is only true if you took steps to maintain pipes or other plumbing components. Otherwise, a claim might be denied on the grounds that the damage was caused by homeowner negligence.
Other Benefits of Routine Drain Cleanings
In addition to saving money on repairs, regular drain cleanings can help your home smell better. As the stuff inside of your pipes breaks down, it creates a foul odor that wafts through the house with ease.
While you may be able to control the smell by pouring water down the bathroom sink or down a sewer drain, you cannot get rid of it without a thorough professional cleaning. Mold and mildew also have a distinct smell that is hard to get rid of unless you eliminate the source of that odor.
You can also increase the useful lifespan of pipes and other plumbing components in your home by keeping them clean. Furthermore, they will work at peak efficiency, which can help you save on utility and other costs for as long as you own your home.
If you need to have your house’s drains professionally cleaned, call the team at Perfect, Plumbing Heating & Air in Boise today! Our professional technicians can also assist with furnace repair and air conditioning installation projects. We can even perform duct cleaning in an effort to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
