Reliable pipes are a key component of a functioning home. If your pipes back up, you could be faced with serious challenges that can take a while to work through. That’s why it’s important to know how to recognize signs of developing problems so that you can have your pipes cleaned before they stop working.
Unusual Smells
Foul odors in your home can have a variety of sources. One possible source, though, is pipes that are partially blocked. As the pipes become increasingly blocked, food particles and other types of waste will have a hard time finding their way down the drain. As the waste sits in the drain, it will begin to rot, resulting in foul odors in your home. If you notice odors only in areas where there are plumbing fixtures, there’s a good chance that clogged pipes are the culprit.
Lack of Hot Water Pressure
Water heaters can collect a surprising amount of sediment during their years of service in your home. Therefore, when a water heater is replaced, care must be taken to prevent these contaminants from entering your hot water supply line. Proper water heater installation will flush the supply lines to prevent any problems. However, if your plumber wasn’t experienced, they may not have done this step. To restore good water pressure, you will need to have your supply lines cleaned and flushed to remove any sediment buildup.
Gurgling Sounds
If it sounds as though there are mysterious creatures living in your pipes, there’s a good chance that your pipes need to be cleaned. When your pipes are restricted due to corrosion on the sides of the pipes, it can allow air to get in your pipes along with the water, leading to the gurgling sounds you hear. Try using a plunger over the affected drains to see if the problem is caused by a clog in a certain area or if the problem affects your entire home.
Slow Drains
There’s no more definite sign that your drains need to be cleaned than when they don’t drain as quickly as they used to. The key to understanding the extent of the problem is to figure out which drains in your home are slow. If only one drain is slow, you only have a localized clog, meaning you may be able to take care of it yourself. However, if all of your drains are slow, you may have a serious problem in the main drain line that will require special attention from a plumber.
Although it’s good to be able to recognize the signs of a clogged pipe, it’s even better to know how to maintain your home’s pipes so that they don’t clog in the first place. Using a water softener, closely monitoring what you put down the drain, and taking the time to regularly clean your drains are just a few things that you can do to reduce or eliminate clogged pipes. With fewer clogs, you’ll be able to extend the life of your home’s pipes, saving significant money in the process.