What are the Potential Consequences of Ignoring a Blocked Drain?

If you have ever experienced a blocked drain, you know how inconvenient and annoying it can be. However, it is also extremely easy to overlook, especially if the clog isn’t large. The clog might simply be causing the water to drain a little bit slower, or your water pressure might be slightly lower. While you might learn to live with these small inconveniences, but did you know that the results of ignoring a blocked drain can lead to serious plumbing problems? We’ve put together the ultimate guide to blocked drains, from what you need to look out for all the way through to why you need to address any clogs as quickly as possible.

How Blockages Can Form

Clogs and blockages are usually formed by debris becoming lodged inside the pipes. The main culprits are food and grease from the kitchen sink which are accidentally washed down without you realising it. However, blockages can be formed by mineral build-up, soap scum, hair, and foreign objects getting stuck inside your pipes without your knowledge. The debris will gradually collect and build up slowly, narrowing the pipe until it is blocked completely. If you notice that your pipes are taking longer than usual to drain, or you have a nasty smell you can’t get rid of, our expert team can help with your drain unblocking in Wirral. Taking preventative measures such as routine cleaning or regularly running boiling water down your plug holes can help to reduce the risk of clogs. If you are looking for more advice, our professionals will be able to help create a proper maintenance plan that will help to reduce the chances of blocked drains even further.

The Results of Ignoring a Blocked Drain

When a clog is not attended to immediately, the results of ignoring a blocked drain can end up being disastrous. While it might seem easier to put off fixing the problem, the longer wait the more damage you will have to deal with later down the line! Some of these problems include:

Danger of Flooding

If a blocked drain is left unchecked and to its own devices, it can eventually lead to a full-scale flood. Not only can this cause extensive damage to your walls, floor, and furniture, but it can also cause significant stress. In order to fix a flood, we usually have to excavate, and this means a lot of digging! This will disrupt your daily routine as well as result in a few unexpected bills – which no one wants!

Risk of Water Damage

One of the most obvious dangers of leaving a blocked drain is the risk of water damage. This might not be on the same scale as a flood, but when a drain becomes blocked, water has nowhere to go. This means that it can build up inside the pipes and leak out slowly where it is not meant to. It can cause damage to walls, floors, and other surfaces, as well as potentially risk the structural integrity of your property. Water damage can be expensive to repair and can also lead to the growth of mould which puts your family’s health at risk as well.

Pest Infestations

Most people don’t realise, but one of the most common causes of pest infestations is blocked drains. Any blockage or clog can attract a whole variety of pests including flies, rodents, and many other creepy crawlies that you don’t want inside your home! Not only can these infestations be a nuisance, but they can also spread diseases and cause further damage to your home.

Health Hazards

A blocked drain can also pose a risk to your, and your family’s, health. If the water from a blocked drain is allowed to sit for too long it can become stagnant and breed bacteria quickly, as well as other harmful microorganisms. This can lead to a higher risk of illnesses spreading, as well as contributing to other health issues such as asthma. By not sorting out your blocked drains, you could be unknowingly putting your family’s health at risk.

Impact Your Plumbing System

Ignoring a blocked drain can also have an impact on your home’s entire plumbing system if you are not careful. When a drain becomes blocked, it can put extra strain or pressure on the rest of the plumbing system, which can lead to other issues such as leaks or burst pipes when there wasn’t a problem before! These can be costly to repair and can cause a whole host of other issues that you weren’t expecting.

Structural Damage

Ignoring a clogged drain can have serious consequences, and can lead to structural damage if not taken care of immediately. Blocked drains can result in water backflow, which will cause water to flood inside your home. This can cause major damage as the water will seep into your walls and can potentially cause them to weaken or rot.

Contaminated Water

Unfortunately, letting water sit inside a blocked drain can contaminate your water supply. If a pipe becomes blocked and water cannot get through, it can only go one other way – backwards. The water then becomes dirty and contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses, and you could be putting your family at risk as this could go undetected for a while before you realise it. Luckily, there will be plenty of other signs before it contaminates your drinking water, but it pays to be aware.

Pest Infestations

Most people don’t realise, but one of the most common causes of pest infestations is blocked drains. Any blockage or clog can attract a whole variety of pests including flies, rodents, and many other creepy crawlies that you don’t want inside your home! Not only can these infestations be a nuisance, but they can also spread diseases and cause further damage to your home.

Health Hazards

A blocked drain can also pose a risk to your, and your family’s, health. If the water from a blocked drain is allowed to sit for too long it can become stagnant and breed bacteria quickly, as well as other harmful microorganisms. This can lead to a higher risk of illnesses spreading, as well as contributing to other health issues such as asthma. By not sorting out your blocked drains, you could be unknowingly putting your family’s health at risk.

Impact Your Plumbing System

Ignoring a blocked drain can also have an impact on your home’s entire plumbing system if you are not careful. When a drain becomes blocked, it can put extra strain or pressure on the rest of the plumbing system, which can lead to other issues such as leaks or burst pipes when there wasn’t a problem before! These can be costly to repair and can cause a whole host of other issues that you weren’t expecting.

Structural Damage

Ignoring a clogged drain can have serious consequences, and can lead to structural damage if not taken care of immediately. Blocked drains can result in water backflow, which will cause water to flood inside your home. This can cause major damage as the water will seep into your walls and can potentially cause them to weaken or rot.

Contaminated Water

Unfortunately, letting water sit inside a blocked drain can contaminate your water supply. If a pipe becomes blocked and water cannot get through, it can only go one other way – backwards. The water then becomes dirty and contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses, and you could be putting your family at risk as this could go undetected for a while before you realise it. Luckily, there will be plenty of other signs before it contaminates your drinking water, but it pays to be aware.

What to Do If You Have a Blocked Drain

If think that you are suffering from clogged and blocked pipes, and you are looking for a quick and cost-effective way of clearing your drains, then get in touch with us here at Mersey Rod to ask about our water jetting services. We are one of the top companies that specialise in drain unblocking in Warrington, and we are here to make sure that you are our main priority when it comes to blocked drains.  Here at Mersey Rod, we offer:

• Emergency drain unblocking services – if you have been experiencing a blocked drain that won’t budge, we highly recommend calling in the professionals before it gets too late! We will use high-pressure jetting to get rid of even the most stubborn clogs to leave your drains running freely.
• Emergency drain repairs – If you need help with a plumbing emergency, we can quickly assess and diagnose the problem using CCTV equipment. This means that we will provide the correct solution the first time, and you won’t have to worry about trial and error to get your drains back on track.
•  CCTV drain surveys – if you don’t know what is causing your drain issues, then worry not! Our drainage engineers will be able to use high-tech CCTV cameras to look deep into your drains and find out what is causing the problem. This means that we can provide the most effective solution and you will be back up and running in no time

If you would like to find out more information or book us in for an annual drain jetting, then give our friendly team a call today! We are here to help you get up and running again as quickly as possible, no matter how big or small the problem is.