Six Signs You May Need A Drain Cleaning Service | New Orleans, LA

2/18/2020

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Drain cleaning is not exactly top of mind for most homeowners. Until something goes wrong, that is. Left unaddressed clogged drains can lead to a host of increasingly serious problems.

That’s why, at the first warning sign, getting a professional drain cleaning service involved is a wise idea. Better yet, regular professional draining cleaning should be an annual maintenance event in your home along with duct cleaning and changing the batteries in your fire alarms.

Taking care of the drainage systems in your home will help ensure the integrity of your largest asset and investment. The alternative can be devastating: collapsed drainage systems that cause damage to the foundation and structure of your home, damage to possessions from water and waste. There are also a number of health hazards associated with moisture from standing water and clogged or broken drains.

If you’re a homeowner living in the greater New Orleans, LA area, do yourself a favor and pay some attention to your drains. If you notice any of the following six warning signs, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. An expert drain cleaning service like the one provided by bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans, LA can prevent serious problems, or diagnose and fix minor ones quickly and safely.

• Slow Drains 

The first sign that you may have a drainage problem is usually a slowly clearing drain. In normal situations, drains do their job by absorbing waste water almost immediately. An obstruction to the free flow within drainage infrastructure will result in waste water circling the drain for a longer period of time. In some cases, the water may back up or stand for a while before making its way down the drain. This usually indicates a blockage or breakage of some kind somewhere within the drainage pipe or line.

• Mysterious Smells

The nose knows. If foul odors are emanating from your drains, it may mean that organic matter (food waste, sewage, etc.) has become trapped and is blocking the free flow of water. You’re probably familiar with the dank, moldy smell of poorly circulating drainage systems. It’s pretty recognizable. In most cases, the efforts of a professional drain cleaning service will fix the problem and clear the air.

• Gurgling and Other Weird Sounds

Normally, water clears drains with a bit of a shushing sound. If you are hearing gurgles, bubbling or rattling sounds when you flush the toilet or run water into a basin, there may be a blockage or problem down the line. Rather than attempting to investigate and fix the problem DIY-style, consider getting a professional drain cleaning service on the job. They can run diagnostics that won’t do further damage but will clear up the issue once they’ve identified the source of the weird noises emanating from your pipes.

• Fruit Flies

In kitchen environments mostly, but elsewhere as well, the presence of fruit flies can cause dismay. They tend to appear suddenly in the presence of decomposing organic matter (you’ve probably experienced their love for over ripened bananas and other fruit). As far as drains go, the presence of these tiny pests usually indicates that there is decomposing organic matter building up with the drainage system. Before dumping toxic pesticides down your drain (never a good idea), call a professional drain cleaning service such as bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans to get at the root of the problem. The best way to get rid of fruit flies isn’t to kill them, but to remove the waste that attracts them in the first place.

• Sinkholes or Wet Spaces in Your Lawn

Bad smells and noises inside your home are bad enough. But if you notice changes to the ground outside your home, in conjunction with slow drains inside, there could be a problem with the larger plumbing infrastructure that connects to your home. For example, it your neighborhood has lots of older trees, the root system can gradually encroach on drain and sewage pipes, breaking or blocking them. This can have serious ramifications for the entire community, not just your family, so be a good citizen and call in a professional if you have a sinkhole in your yard. A professional drain cleaning service will have technicians that use the specialized equipment necessary for scoping out drain infrastructure to find out what’s really going on, and fix it fast.

• Mold and Mildew

The twin harbingers of excess damp, mold and mildew, can indicate leaks in your home’s envelope (roof, siding, foundation), or they can appear when blocked or cracked drains are forcing waste water into spaces they don’t belong. Pipes and drain lines can even grow mold on their exteriors, in addition to joints and connections to walls and floors. There are a number of problems that create mold and mildew within a home; drainage problems are just one of them. Since they pose a health hazard, especially to the young or old, or anyone with allergies or a compromised respiratory system, the more you can do to avoid the problem before it becomes one, the better. Regular drain cleaning services is one good way to ensure your home stays dry and secure.

In fact, many home care experts believe in the benefits of regular maintenance of household systems, rather than calling in a professional only when problems arise. Many small issues can be headed off at the pass and fixed before they turn into large ones. And that can save money and heartache for homeowners. This is where a regularly scheduled annual drain cleaning service and maintenance call can come in handy.

Looking for an expert drain cleaning service in the greater New Orleans, LA area? Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain to find out more about their extensive menu of residential and commercial plumbing and drain services.