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Top 10 Signs Your Drain Needs Cleaning
March 3, 2025
“Is cleaning my drain really that important? What is the big deal?” Let us illustrate why it is a big deal with Sarah’s story:
Sarah noticed that her kitchen sink was draining slowly. At first, she didn’t think it was a big deal and figured it was a bit of grease build-up. After using a store-bought drain cleaner, she forgot about it and pushed the thoughts away.
A few weeks later, her bathtub filled up with murky water and after flushing the toilet, water filled her kitchen sink. She called a plumber who found a major blockage in her main sewer line. What could have been a simple drain cleaning turned into thousands of dollars down the toilet - literally. Rather than the routine cleaning she could have gotten when the problem first started, she had to deal with excavation, pipe replacement, and days without running water.
Moral of the story: don’t ignore the warning signs! Act early by getting your drains cleaned and avoid costly disasters.
You might be wondering, “Well, what are the warning signs?” That's what we are here for. Here are the top 10 signs your drain really needs a cleaning.
Like in Sarah’s situation, slow drains can cause major problems if ignored. Whether in your sinks, tubs, or showers, make sure your water is going where it should be – down the drain, not up and out. The most common reasons for slow drainage are things like hair, grease, or soap buildup.
Are you finding unpleasant smells near your sink or tub? Foul smells coming from drains can be caused by trapped food, grease, or sewage, all of which can smell rather unpleasant. Not only having these things there but leaving them stuck there for bacteria to grow causes the smells to worsen!
Gurgling noises in your drain aren’t the same as the gurgling noises you hear when you’ve skipped breakfast and need a smoothie. While both are problematic, if your drains make bubbling or gurgling sounds when water goes down, it means air is trapped in the pipes due to a clog. These noises are a warning that water isn’t flowing and that a blockage is forming.
Have you noticed tiny flies around your kitchen sink or in your bathroom? These pests are attracted to the natural buildup that happens in drains. If you have recently cleaned the surrounding areas and these flies linger, your drains likely will need a thorough cleaning to remove the decaying matter they’re feeding on.
The only time puddles are a good thing is if it's raining and you’re outside; never in your sink or around your floor drains. If you notice puddles forming, it indicates a slow drain or a blockage. Standing water could also lead to mold and mildew thus creating additional issues.
As you can imagine, clogged drains can cause lingering moisture. Lingering moisture can allow mold growth, as mold thrives in damp environments. When you find mold or mildew in or around your sinks or tubs, there may be hidden moisture staying in there because of a blockage.
Is your toilet overflowing regularly? If it frequently overflows or doesn’t flush properly, this could mean there is an obstruction in the drain or even in the main sewer line. Professional drain cleaning services are often required if plunging doesn’t resolve the issue, in order to prevent further and more serious plumbing issues.
Do you have a suddenly excessive water bill? You might not realize an unexplained high water bill could be a sign of an undetected plumbing problem. Whether it is a leak or a blockage, these both cause pressure build-ups in the pipes then leading to wasted water and an increased bill. Regular drain cleaning can help prevent this kind of surprise spending.
Now that you know the warning signs, what should you do about it? If you have noticed one or two (or worse– more!) of these things happening, the first step is the following:
Don’t ignore the warning signs of clogged drains!
As we learned from Sarah, small drain issues can quickly turn into costly plumbing disasters. Especially if these problems persist or involve more than one area of your home, it is time to call Power Rooter – the best plumbers and drain cleaning professionals near Valdosta, GA.
A drain cleaning service can resolve stubborn clogs, eliminate those bad smells, and prevent plumbing damage! The experts at Power Rooter have all the right tools and experience to keep your drains flowing.
Our advanced hydro-jet cleaning service provides a very effective solution for clearing clogged and slow drain lines. Using high-pressured water, this technique efficiently removes blockages caused by tree roots, grease, mineral buildup, and sludge. Extending up to 200 feet, our hydro-jet system can clear anything from a bathroom sink clog to a fully blocked sewer line.
Sarah noticed that her kitchen sink was draining slowly. At first, she didn’t think it was a big deal and figured it was a bit of grease build-up. After using a store-bought drain cleaner, she forgot about it and pushed the thoughts away.
A few weeks later, her bathtub filled up with murky water and after flushing the toilet, water filled her kitchen sink. She called a plumber who found a major blockage in her main sewer line. What could have been a simple drain cleaning turned into thousands of dollars down the toilet - literally. Rather than the routine cleaning she could have gotten when the problem first started, she had to deal with excavation, pipe replacement, and days without running water.
Moral of the story: don’t ignore the warning signs! Act early by getting your drains cleaned and avoid costly disasters.
You might be wondering, “Well, what are the warning signs?” That's what we are here for. Here are the top 10 signs your drain really needs a cleaning.
1. Slow Drainage
Like in Sarah’s situation, slow drains can cause major problems if ignored. Whether in your sinks, tubs, or showers, make sure your water is going where it should be – down the drain, not up and out. The most common reasons for slow drainage are things like hair, grease, or soap buildup.2. Frequent Clogs
A clog in your drain every now and then is normal. If this is happening regularly, despite all the snaking and plunging, you have a larger issue going on. Again, this can be a clogged toilet, tub, sink, or shower. This usually indicates that there are deeper blockages in your lines and you need a professional to help with a routine drain cleaning service.
3. Unpleasant Odors
Are you finding unpleasant smells near your sink or tub? Foul smells coming from drains can be caused by trapped food, grease, or sewage, all of which can smell rather unpleasant. Not only having these things there but leaving them stuck there for bacteria to grow causes the smells to worsen!
4. Gurgling Noises
Gurgling noises in your drain aren’t the same as the gurgling noises you hear when you’ve skipped breakfast and need a smoothie. While both are problematic, if your drains make bubbling or gurgling sounds when water goes down, it means air is trapped in the pipes due to a clog. These noises are a warning that water isn’t flowing and that a blockage is forming.5. Water Backing Up
If you flush your toilet and water comes up your tub or sink, or if you turn on your dishwasher and water comes up somewhere else, there is obviously an issue. Besides the possible sanitation issues, this could mean there is a blockage in your main sewage line.
6. Presence of Fruit Flies or Drain Flies
Have you noticed tiny flies around your kitchen sink or in your bathroom? These pests are attracted to the natural buildup that happens in drains. If you have recently cleaned the surrounding areas and these flies linger, your drains likely will need a thorough cleaning to remove the decaying matter they’re feeding on.
7. Standing Water Around Drains
The only time puddles are a good thing is if it's raining and you’re outside; never in your sink or around your floor drains. If you notice puddles forming, it indicates a slow drain or a blockage. Standing water could also lead to mold and mildew thus creating additional issues.
8. Mold or Mildew Growth
As you can imagine, clogged drains can cause lingering moisture. Lingering moisture can allow mold growth, as mold thrives in damp environments. When you find mold or mildew in or around your sinks or tubs, there may be hidden moisture staying in there because of a blockage.
9. Overflowing Toilets
Is your toilet overflowing regularly? If it frequently overflows or doesn’t flush properly, this could mean there is an obstruction in the drain or even in the main sewer line. Professional drain cleaning services are often required if plunging doesn’t resolve the issue, in order to prevent further and more serious plumbing issues.
10. Unexplained High Water Bills
Do you have a suddenly excessive water bill? You might not realize an unexplained high water bill could be a sign of an undetected plumbing problem. Whether it is a leak or a blockage, these both cause pressure build-ups in the pipes then leading to wasted water and an increased bill. Regular drain cleaning can help prevent this kind of surprise spending.
Say Goodbye to Clogs with Expert Drain Cleaning Services
Now that you know the warning signs, what should you do about it? If you have noticed one or two (or worse– more!) of these things happening, the first step is the following:Don’t ignore the warning signs of clogged drains!
As we learned from Sarah, small drain issues can quickly turn into costly plumbing disasters. Especially if these problems persist or involve more than one area of your home, it is time to call Power Rooter – the best plumbers and drain cleaning professionals near Valdosta, GA.
A drain cleaning service can resolve stubborn clogs, eliminate those bad smells, and prevent plumbing damage! The experts at Power Rooter have all the right tools and experience to keep your drains flowing.