Common Drainage Problems and How to Diagnose Them

Drains are something that we use in our everyday life without even realising. Although they are extremely important to keep our homes and businesses running smoothly, it can be easy to forget about them because they are out of sight, hidden within walls and underground. Like any system, drains can be susceptible to problems, and over time you can experience clogs, cracks, wear and tear, intrusions, and total collapse in some worst-case scenarios.

It is important that you can identify and quickly correct these problems if they arise, as leaving them can create more damage and more expensive bills in the future. As experts in blocked drains in Liverpool, our team at Mersey Rod have put together a guide exploring the most common drainage problems, what can cause them, and the best solutions to get you back up and running again.

Clogged and Blocked Drains

The most common drainage problem you can encounter will be clogs or a blocked drain in Liverpool, and these create some of the most noticeable issues to your home or business. Essentially, when a drain is clogged or blocked, water is unable to flow through the system correctly which can cause ineffective water removal and cause backups throughout the system. Clogs and blockages can form due to debris accumulation over a long period of time, through foreign objects being accidently flushed or thrown down the plug, or depositing substances that you shouldn’t down the sink.  Hair, soap, fat, grease, or shampoo can all lead to a clogged drain, and the best way to stop these from forming is to be extremely careful with what goes down the plug hole.

You will notice clogs forming over time, and they do not happen overnight. Your water might start draining more slowly or not at all, you might hear gurgling noises when you run the tap, or your water levels might rise when you flush the toilet. You may be able to use some home remedies to try and get rid of the blockages, but the best remedy to clogs inside your drainage system is to call a company that specialises in drain unblocking in Liverpool.

Clogs can be stubborn, and you might be doing more harm than good by using some of these DIY methods. Here at Mersey Rod, we have the knowledge and experience to ensure that the clog or blockage is gone, and will give you the correct advice and measures to stop them from reoccurring in the future.

Object Intrusions

You might think that because your drainage system is hidden within your walls or deep underground that nothing will be able to intrude, but there is still a risk. Tree roots and other debris, including dead animals, can cause drainage problems, and these will only get worse if the intrusion remains there for a long period of time.

Tree roots are constantly growing, and they will always grow towards the source of moisture – which just happens to be your pipes! As the tree root grows, it will apply pressure to the side of your pipes until the root completely intrudes and breaks into the pipe. Weakened joint systems along the edges of the pipe are the most susceptible, and you will notice a significant drop in water pressure if the root manages to make its way inside.

There is no home remedy for pipe intrusions, and you will need to call in the experts to fix this issue. Here at Mersey Rod, we will use high-pressure jetting equipment to flush away the tree root, and then repair anything that has damage as a result of the root.

Broken Drain Pipes

Drains are a complex network of pipes that connect waste water to the wider sewage system underground. Like all structural elements, drainage pipes can break or loosen over time due to general wear and tear – you use your drainage system a lot every day! Once a drainage pipe has broken or become loose, you will notice that waste water will begin to collect in the surrounding areas, and in some instances, it can even cause a backup into your home.

This can be alarming, but you need to call in the professionals as soon as you notice anything like this happening. It could simply be a sign of a blocked drain in Liverpool, or it could be something more serious. Our team will be on hand to diagnose quickly, and find you the best, most cost-effective solution. Broken pipes rarely mean a full-scale evacuation these days, but there is no home remedy that can fix a broken pipe.

Drain Collapses

The most severe drain problem you can have is to have a drain collapse. This process occurs when one or more of the pipes that make up your drainage system collapse, and they can no longer carry the waste water through to the sewage system. This means that you will notice the waste water pooling into the ground, or even worse, coming back up the drains and into your house. This can cause structural problems if you don’t fix it quickly thanks to the overflow of water into the foundations or waste water collecting inside your walls.

If left for a long period of time, a collapsed drain can create massive amounts of pooling waste water, and you need to get the experts in quickly. Here at Mersey Rod, we will be able to diagnose a collapsed drain using our high-tech CCTV survey equipment. We will feed the cameras into the drainage system and find the exact location of the collapsed drain, so there is no guesswork involved.

Once we have found the source of the problem, we will be able to realign pipes, or look at excavation if there isn’t a simple fix. Regardless of the solution, you need to ensure that you call someone with the correct knowledge and experience to tackle a collapsed drain, and as quickly as you can. Leaving a collapsed pipe in your system will only make the problem worse, and more expensive.

What should you do if you experience drainage problems?

If you think you have a drainage problem, then call our friendly team here at Mersey Rod for more information or advice. We have a 24/7 emergency line, as we know that plumbing problems don’t just happen during working hours! Our team has years of experience and knowledge to help you get back up and running as quickly as possible, and we will always try to work around you and your schedule.

We know that money is always at the back of your mind when something big happens to your home or business, and we aim to quickly diagnose the issue and come up with the most efficient and cost-effective solutions so you don’t have to worry. We offer a comprehensive list of services, and can help you with any drain problem – from blockages and clogs, intrusions, leaks, and broken drain pipes, no matter how large or small the issue is.

If you think that you have a drain problem, don’t leave it any longer! You could risk having a full-scale plumbing emergency! Call our team today for more information.