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Harmful Effects Of Blocked Drainage On Your Home And Health

13 May

Although a poor drainage system is standard in most households, a blocked drain isn’t considered a significant plumbing issue until it wreaks havoc on your property, and you’ll need more than drain cleaning chemicals. Without calling a local plumber and clearing blocked drains immediately, you’ll have to consider costly repairs and extensive damage to your plumbing system.

Unpleasant odours, slow pooling water, or gurgling sounds are all tell-tale signs of a blocked drain. And if truth be told, clogging doesn’t happen overnight unless an object is thrown or falls down the drain.

Blocked drains are caused mainly by buildups like hair, grime, debris, grease, fat, vegetable peels, or any other solid object pushed through the sink or drain. Tree roots can also cause problems with water flow and, later on, structural integrity. That’s why fixing the issue as soon as possible is essential. Believe it or not, blockages are just the tip of the iceberg, which can cause plenty of damage and danger to your home and health.

Even today, many homeowners are unaware of the dangers of blocked drainage, so we decided to curate this informative guide. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and learn more about drain blockage and why it can lead to a plumbing emergency!

Harmful Effects Of Blocked Drainage On Your Home And Health

Very Clogged Drain Bad For Health

1. Attracts Mould And Pest

There’s no denying that pests thrive in moist areas. This is their breeding ground. They settle in blocked drains and feed on foodstuff, contaminated water, or stagnant water. Besides invading the drainpipe, they cause many health issues as they carry bacteria and diseases. If your backyard drain is overflowing due to clogging, it’s likely to become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Additionally, it invites mould and mildew into the home and can trigger allergic reactions such as itching, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and more. Since they require a damp environment, a blocked drain offers them the perfect environment to thrive.

So, if there’s a blockage in your home, there’s a high probability that mould spores are growing in your home.

2. Unpleasant Odour

If you’re wondering why your home has started smelling like rotten eggs, we suggest checking the bathroom, kitchen, and backyard drains for blockage. Food items, debris, human waste, grease, and other products clog the drain, hindering water from flowing down the pipe and releasing toxic gases into the home.

You may be tempted to use chemical cleaners, but we’d suggest you refrain from using them. They are loaded with dangerous chemicals that can aggravate the smell. Plus, being exposed to such toxic gases for hours isn’t safe and can lead to irritability, tiredness, headaches and other issues.

The best way to get rid of the toxic smell from your home is to contact a professional plumber who is qualified and equipped to take on the job.

3. Weakens Home Structure

Have you ever wondered what can happen if you leave clogged drains untreated for a long time? They attack your plumbing system, causing more damage than you can imagine.

While some may cause leaks by creeping through cracks and corners of the walls and ceilings, others may remain stagnant and weaken the structure and foundation of your property. And if clogged drains aren’t unclogged on time, they will wreak havoc in most areas, so you’ll have to spend thousands of bucks on plumbing emergencies and repairing your home.

Clogged Drain With Hair In Bathroom Bacteria

4. Slow Drainage

Despite being one of the most annoying plumbing woes, most homeowners don’t pay much heed to slow drainage. However, it calls for immediate inspection because it happens only when the drain pipes are clogged with nonsense stuff, tampering with its functionality.

Subsequently, it may start flowing back towards the sinkfilling your home with obnoxious smells and leading to health issues.

5. Leaks

When blocked drains are left untreated for a while, the accumulated water contributes to leakage, causing plenty of damage to your plumbing systems and the structure of your home. For those unversed, let us tell you that stagnant water will cause the pipes to explode, and if that happens, you’ll have to shell out lots of money to repair your burst pipes.

Of course, this is uncanny, but it may also happen that when one side of your lawn has taller trees and green grasses than the other side, this may indicate leaking pipes.

Burst Black Pipe Causing Water Damage And Mould

6. Health Risks

The effects of blocked drainage on human health are numerous, so it is advisable to get it treated as soon as possible.

First, it promotes the growth of bacteria that can attack your family’s immune system, leading to diseases and triggering allergic reactions. If you’re wondering how blocked drains lead to bacteria growth, let us tell you that when water fails to pass through the pipes, it flows back to the sink.

At times, it may flow back to the pipe or remain stagnant. Even if it flows into the pipe, it will be a potential threat because it contains bacteria that can attack you whenever you use the sink.

Not only that, but the accumulated water in the pipe can also cause legionnaires’ diseases, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and so on. That’s because it promotes the growth of Legionella and other bacteria responsible for causing these diseases.

Another common bacteria that grows in the drainage system is helicobacter, known for causing stomach infections. They are dangerous as they can lead to peptic ulcers, which can be treated only through antibiotics.

And if we’d be honest, children may contract these diseases more quickly than adults because of their weak immune systems. Hence, unclogging drains as soon as possible is essential so you and your family can stay safe from serious health issues.

Call A Fully Licensed And Experienced Plumber

Not to deny, blocked drainage is a nuisance for every homeowner, be it in the kitchen, toilet or backyard. Besides, it can damage your plumbing system, weaken your home’s foundation, and cause serious health issues.

Hence, it is essential to detect the issue’s source and fix it immediately. Of course, you may be tempted to unclog the drain yourself, but it’s better to leave the job to trained professionals.

That’s because plumbing systems are complicated, and the slightest mistake can cause extensive damage that will cost a lot of money to fix.

If your drainage is blocked, you know how harmful it can be to your home and health. So call the drainage specialists at Gold Coast Plumbing Company. We can clear severe blockages in your drainage with the latest tools and methodology and take care of all your plumbing needs. Call us! And if you’re struggling with a malfunctioning hot water system, suspect tree roots in your pipe threatening your home’s structural integrity, or need annual drain cleaning maintenance to avoid the harmful effects of blocked or clogged drains— get in touch with our team.

With that, we’ve reached the end of our guide. However, remember to get quotes from multiple companies and check their reviews online before settling on one.

Goodbye and take care!