Affton, MO, Drain Repair. Your shower doesn't drain right. Or your laundry room has stagnant water on the floor. Or your sewer drain is flowing in the wrong direction (this could even be an emergency). Whatever isn't working right, you know one thing: You need to fix your drain.
Don't face these issues alone. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we're equipped to clean and repair drain problems. Our licensed, knowledgeable plumbing contractors are well-practiced with Affton homes' water systems, and have the tools to inspect and repair your pipes while we're out for a cleaning.
Something up with your pipes? If so, call us now at 314-972-2233 or reach out online to schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers. We're available 24/7 and will have someone at your home quickly.
Indicators Your Affton, MO, Home's Drain Requires Repairs:
Sometimes it's easy to tell when your drain needs repairs – if it's visibly broken, you know that it needs to be fixed. But with your home's plumbing system all interconnected, some drain problem indicators could actually be caused by a different plumbing issue.
Below are some of the main signs to watch out for. The more present in your home, the more likely that you'll need to call professional plumbing services to come out and fix the issue.
Slow Drains
Sometimes, it just means that they need to be cleaned. Other times, slow drains are a sign of a deeper problem. Watch out for sudden changes, but also keep an eye out for it gradually getting slow over time. In either case, it's probably due to a clog, though with different types of debris. A plunger is a good fix for clogs, but if that doesn't work, it's possible that something else is causing the problem.
Foul Odors
Bad smells originating around your drain can have a variety of causes, some of which are more nefarious than others. If the scent isn't overly strong, it could just mean that your drain needs to be cleaned. But if it's constant and/or sickening, you might be dealing with sewage backup, mold, or bacterial growth. These all can happen after major leaks or other issues with your home's plumbing.
Multiple or Recurring Clogged Lines
If the clogs aren't pervasive, then you probably don't have widespread issues. But if drains all over your house, or a specific section of it, are having issues, there could be something wrong further down the pipes. Similarly, if the clog seems to keep coming back after cleanings, that's a sign that more significant repairs are needed.
Water Backing Up or Overflowing
Don't assume that the appliance which is having trouble draining is also the source of the clog. For example, your toilet line could be blocked, and when you try to flush, the water can't reach the sewer. Instead, it diverts back up your pipes and can come out the drain of your shower or sink. An overflowing toilet is also likely the result of a clog.
Gurgling Sounds
It's common for Affton, MO, homes to have a bit of gurgling in their pipes, but watch out for repeated, persistent, or long-lasting gurgles coming from your drains. Gurgles are indicators that there is air stuck somewhere in your pipes that can't get out. Clogs can get in the way of air in much the same way they stop water from flowing, and cracks in the pipes will let extra air in.
If you're noticing these signs in your Affton, MO, house's plumbing, but you haven't been able to track down the underlying cause, a drain camera inspection can give you answers. By inserting a state-of-the-art camera into your drains, we can view the pipe's condition behind walls and find problems like cracks, clogs, and tree roots. With regular drain camera inspections, we can stop smaller issues from growing into larger ones.
Common Causes of Drain Problems in Affton, MO
When you see multiple of the signs above in your home's drains, it's all pointing towards broken drains or pipes. You'll want to call a plumber for professional drain cleaning and repair services as well as advising on other preventative measures you can take to protect your home's plumbing. Here are some of the main causes we've seen for drain problems in Affton, MO:
Wear and Tear
The first cause is, unfortunately, the hardest to avoid: wear and tear. After enough usage, you'll find that at least one of your home's pipes will need repairs. With proper care, you shouldn't need to replace your pipes for more than a decade, but having acidic or high-mineral water can result in corrosion.
Hair
Hair is one of the most common causes of shower and bath clogs. Even though it's not particularly bulky, if hair tangles and knots, it can attach itself to the pipe or drain and start a more serious blockage.
Soap
While most people don't think much of soap as it washes down the drain, it's actually a common cause for drain problems. If you use too much, the soap runoff will solidify when it makes contact with minerals in the water, forming scum that can clog your drains and catch more debris.
Grease/Fat
Many people pour oil, grease, and fats down the drain without realizing the harm they are doing to their pipes. Even if they are liquid when they enter the drain, they'll very likely solidify deep in your drains or pipes, creating blockages.
Food Waste
A garbage disposal can help, but ideally, it's a bad idea to send food products down your drain, as the solids form the basis of clogs. Compost it or toss it out instead.
Tree Roots
If the issue is further down your pipes, particularly with sewer lines, tree roots could be exacerbating the issue. When sewage leaks in your yard, Affton, MO, trees try to extend roots to that area for the water and nutrients.
Over-the-Counter Drain Cleaners
In spite of their name, the drain cleaners you buy at the grocery store may actually do more harm than good. They can be hazardous to your health, create new clogs, and corrode your pipes.
When you're up against any of these drain issues, you should contact a drain expert to unclog your drains and repair them. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we specialize in helping your drains and can help with any other plumbing issues. Whatever we find when we inspect your drain, we're equipped to help you fix it.
How to Prevent Drain Problems
We get it – plumbing repairs are no fun to go through. Between the expenses and the initial stress, we'd all like to avoid broken drains. Regular inspections help, but between them, it's important to take steps to protect your drains from clogs and damage:
- Avoid putting solids down the drain. Or anything from the list above. Solids get stuck and cause both blocks and corrosion.
- Use a Drain Cover/Strainer. This can protect your drain from anything that accidentally tries to flow down.
- Clean Drain Covers/Strainers Regularly. Let them get dirty and they'll overflow, leading back to clogs.
- Run hot (not boiling) water down your drains regularly. Hot water can loosen and break off clogs that have formed in your drains. Boiling water can damage your pipes, though.
- Use a water softener or filter. This is particularly helpful for water that is acidic and/or has a high mineral content.
Following these steps will protect your Affton, MO, drains from clogs. There will still be things that slip through, but the better you take care of your home's drains, water, and sewer lines, the longer they'll last.
Drain Cleaning STL is Ready to Repair Your Affton Drains
If you've got drain issues in Affton, MO, no matter what is going on behind the scenes, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is equipped for the task. Our licensed plumbers are fast and friendly, with extensive training and experience repairing Affton drains.
We have been serving Affton, MO homes since 2011, and have made a difference in hundreds of customers' lives. Today, we are proud of our status as a master plumber and drainlayer, and bring protection to your home in the form of insurance and bonds.
Reach us by phone at 314-972-2233 or reach out online to schedule a checkup or repair appointment today. We are ready for any for drain cleaning emergencies.
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