Health Risks of Blocked Drains

Introduction to Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are a serious concern for both residential and commercial properties, leading to substantial property damage and costly repairs if left untreated. As experts in the field, Our team frequently addresses the property damage resulting from neglected drain blockages.

Clogged drains cause water backup in sinks, bathtubs, and toilets, leading to stagnant water that infiltrates your home, fostering harmful bacteria, mould, and other contaminants. Blocked drains can also emit toxic gases or permeate walls and floors, posing serious health risks and compromising home integrity.

Addressing a blocked drain swiftly is crucial to prevent water contamination and plumbing system damage. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the most common causes of clogs, their potential health dangers, and how to properly maintain your home’s drains to avoid blockages.

Causes of Blocked Drains

Blocked drains in Peakhurst typically result from various substances:

• Hair - Strands of hair trapped and accumulating in a drainage system can over time form a dense blockage.
• Fats, oils and grease - Cooking residues like oils and fats can cool and solidify on pipe walls.
• Food scraps - Leftover food particles going down drain may not break down fully and can cling to pipes.
• Tree roots - Invasive roots from shrubbery and trees can grow into and obstruct drainage pipes.
• Dirt and debris - Loose sediment entering sinks and drains can gradually form clogs.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and showers are common sites for drain blockages. Proper waste disposal is crucial in homes and businesses to minimise sink blockages, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms, and showers.

Clearing blockages from less visible parts of your drainage system is essential.

Signs You Have a Blocked Drain

Several warning signs indicate a blocked drain at your Peakhurst property:

• Slow drainage or complete cessation of water flow are significant concerns
• Gurgling noises indicating compromised drain functionality
• Sinks, bathtubs, or toilets backing up with water potentially affecting the entire sewerage system
• Pools of standing water collecting around drains
• Unusual odours, often described as an unpleasant smell coming from the drains
• Presence of sewer flies or other pests around drains

Blocked drains pose health risks that go beyond mild inconvenience and can worsen if not treated promptly. Promptly contacting a local Peakhurst plumber when you notice these signs can prevent costly property damage and water contamination.

Our experts are skilled in safely and efficiently removing blockages, minimising the immediate health risks to your plumbing.

Health Risks of Blocked Drains

Blocked drain hazards to property and well-being are serious concerns that warrant immediate attention. Stagnant water in clogged pipes can become a breeding ground for harmful contaminants.

Harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella can thrive in stagnant water, endangering the health of your household through blocked drainage systems. Exposure to bacteria from blocked drains can result in serious gastrointestinal or respiratory infections.

Waste buildup in your home can produce toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane, and carbon monoxide, which pose significant health risks, especially when exacerbated by a blocked drain. Inhaling even trace amounts of these odourless gases over time can cause symptoms like nausea, headaches, or even unconsciousness.

Excess moisture from blocked drains can lead to structural damage and promote the growth of mould around the problem areas. The spores released by this fungus can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma. Blockages may also attract cockroaches, rats and other disease-carrying pests.

Contact with water contaminated by blocked drains can lead to parasite infections through the eyes, skin abrasions, or inadvertent ingestion. Giardia lamblia for example can inflict acute diarrhoea.

It’s important to recognise that ignoring blocked drainage in your property compromises the safety of your home as well as the health of your loved ones. Promptly call a professional Peakhurst plumber to remove any blockages and the associated hazards from your home.

Preventing Blocked Drains

The prevention of drain blockages requires the establishment of routine maintenance and best practices. Peakhurst Plumbing offers professional preventative drain servicing on a regular basis to keep your plumbing system running smoothly.

Households and businesses can undertake simple actions to prevent clogs in pipes:

• Install drain covers in sinks and showers to trap hair and debris before they enter the pipes
• Avoid disposing of fats, oils, and food waste down the sink; dispose of them in bins instead
• Regularly rinse your bathroom and kitchen sinks with hot water to eliminate grime
• Monthly, pour half a cup each of baking soda and vinegar down the drains, then flush with hot water to dissolve grease
• Regularly trim trees and shrubs to keep invasive roots from obstructing exterior drains
• During extended non-use periods, regularly flush toilets and run taps to clear water pathways

Preventative measures can greatly reduce the risk of drain blockages. If you encounter a clog, prompt contact with our Peakhurst plumbing team can resolve the issue before it worsens.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

Promptly hiring a professional plumber is critical under the following circumstances:

• Persistent clogged drains unresponsive to household remedies
• Overpowering foul sewage odours emanating from sinks or floor drains in the presence of blockages
• Leaking pipes or faucets
• Cracked or blocked sewer lines
• Bathtubs, showers or sinks backing up with water
• Toilets that continue to run constantly, possibly indicating issues with the septic tank
• Dripping fixtures despite changing washers
• Shower heads with low pressure
• Gurgling sounds coming from toilet bowls or sinks
• Outdoor sewer caps constantly bubbling up

DIY attempts to clear blocked drains at home offer no guarantee and can exacerbate problems without proper equipment and expertise. Our professional Peakhurst plumbers are equipped with advanced tools to quickly identify and resolve issues, knowing the actions to prevent future blockages.

We also provide preventative maintenance servicing. Ensure regular inspections of your plumbing systems by our technicians, including checks on walls and floors, to catch and address small issues early.

Hiring trusted Peakhurst Plumbing professionals guarantees quality service and safeguards your home.

How to Choose a Qualified Plumber

Choosing a qualified, reputable plumber is crucial to ensure your plumbing issues are properly diagnosed and resolved. When evaluating plumbers, there are several key factors to consider:

• Licencing & Certifications - Verify plumbers hold an active licence issued by your state. Trade certifications also demonstrate advanced skills and specialisations.
• Insurance Coverage - Legitimate plumbers carry liability insurance and workers compensation policies which can cover accidents or property damage.
• Experience - Seek plumbers with 5+ years industry experience, particularly with systems similar to yours.
• Reviews - Customer reviews and testimonials offer insight into service quality, responsiveness and professionalism.
• Service Offerings - Choose a plumber offering comprehensive services required to fully address any drain or plumbing challenges.
• Availability - Select a plumber providing emergency services 24/7 to respond urgently when serious issues arise.

Our Peakhurst Plumbing team, as leaders in drainage system maintenance, meets all aforenoted qualifications. Boasting over a decade of service in the local community, our practical expertise, sophisticated equipment, and superior customer support swiftly and efficiently take care of any plumbing emergency. Contact us today on 1300 349 338 for reliable drain clearing, leak detection, maintenance and repairs guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the signs of a blocked drain?
Symptoms like slow draining water, pipes making gurgling sounds, and foul sewage smells are typical indicators of a blocked drain. These symptoms indicate an obstruction in the drainage system that, if neglected for a long time, could lead to critical situations that demand immediate attention.
2. Is a blocked drain an emergency situation?
Yes, a blocked drain should be treated as an emergency since it’s a threat your health and property, potentially leading to sewage backups, water damage, mould growth, and bacterial contamination if left untreated. The longer the blockage persists, the greater the potential health risks and property damage. Contact a professional plumber urgently to ensure that waste water does not back into your home during emergency drain clearing.
3. How can I unclog a blocked drain?
If you discover your drains blocked, start by trying a drain snake, plunger, baking soda/vinegar treatment or commercial drain opener. Avoid using caustic chemicals. Make sure if DIY methods don’t clear the clog, to call a professional Peakhurst plumber immediately, as persistent obstructions often require specialised tools like high-pressure jetters. Attempting improper repairs without protective clothing can worsen issues.
4. How can I prevent future drain clogs?
You can help prevent blockages by installing drain screens, limiting fats/oils/food waste entering pipes, using drain cleaners monthly, trimming invasive tree roots and scheduling professional preventative drain maintenance every 6-12 months. Peakhurst Plumbing offers reliable maintenance plans to keep your drainage running smoothly.
5. How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain?
The cost to clear a blocked drain depends on the type of drain, its location, complexity, and the method required for resolution. Ballpark estimates range from $150-$500. More difficult blockages requiring excavation or sewer line replacement may cost upwards of $5,000 or more. Peakhurst Plumbing offers upfront pricing with no hidden fees.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the impact of blocked drains poses serious threats to the health of residents and the structural integrity of properties, and should never be overlooked. Stagnant water and sewage provide prime conditions for dangerous contaminants like bacteria, mould and toxic gases to thrive.

Exposure can be harmful to your health, leading to severe illnesses through direct contact, inhalation, or as a result of the pests invading in your household. High moisture also promotes destructive mould growth in walls and flooring materials. As clogs persist, the risk of substantial water damage and expensive repairs increases.

Acting swiftly upon initial signs of blockage, such as foul odours, slow drainage, or backed-up sinks, is vital for family protection. It’s important to note that attempting improper DIY repairs often makes problems worse, so contacting professional help immediately is advised.

Establishing preventative maintenance, such as using drain screens, reducing waste in drains, applying monthly treatments, and regular service appointments, can help avoid blocked drain hazards.

Peakhurst Plumbing provides around-the-clock emergency services with advanced diagnostics and reliable clearing methods for urgent blockage removal and expert drainage solutions. Our more than a decade of expertise ensures dependable plumbing and drain repairs to protect health and home.

Reach out to us at 1300 349 338 or via email at jobs@peakhurstplumbingservices.com.au to arrange a session with our drain cleaning experts in Peakhurst.