In a perfect world, you’d have no problem with your home’s drainage system. However, the reality is that you might encounter a few (or many) drainage issues in your abode at one point in time. Still, you can prevent these events from happening with regular checks. Continue reading to know five reasons you should check your home’s drainage regularly. And if you are looking for high-quality engineering adhesives, open the link given.
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Toilet Water Backing Up
You might experience water returning after flushing the toilet. That scenario may seem like a normal occurrence, however the water returned may contain dirt, wastes, and other filthy substances.
Routine maintenance can help prevent toilet water from backing up after flushing. Preventive care may also help water from backing up even if you don’t flush. Understanding the causes of why toilet waters return should help you take preventive measures and avoid this particular incident from happening. Some of these causes may include:
- The tank has an insufficient water supply
- The drainage system needs repairs or replacements
- Clogs in the trap or main pipe
However, there are cases wherein water still backs up despite practicing routine maintenance procedures on your toilet. Note that you can use home solutions to solve the concern. For example, use a plunger to remove small blockages in the trap or main pipe connected to the toilet. Still, these household devices tend to be a quick yet temporary fix to toilet clogs and backed-up water.
As per AAA Sewer Service, you need to clear that clog before it costs you. Pursuing a temporary fix may have the potential to make the problem worse. Note that partially cleaned drains might escalate to serious clogging concerns in the future.
If you’re not confident about solving your ‘toilet water backing up’ issue, perhaps, it’s a better idea to call the professionals instead. Experts in the industry can provide long-term solutions to your toilet pipes, so you won’t have to worry about experiencing this particular incident soon.
Funky Stench
Imagine the following scenario: you take a break from work and decide to walk outside. But,your nostrils suddenly meet a funky stench in the air as soon as you open your front door. At first, you might think it’s probably just a dead rat somewhere. However, closer inspection dictates that your front yard is clean of any dead animals.
Instead of searching for potential road kills near your property, it’s high time to look at your home’s rain gutters. You should know that these components provide clearance for rainwater to steer clear from your doors, windows, walls, and other exterior décor. However, rain gutters may also trap objects, like leaves, twigs, and small debris, as well as become the final resting place of a poor animal so make sure you are checking them.
A rodent, squirrel, or any small creature might get stuck inside your home’s guttering, leaving the poor animal to drown when it rains. You can feel sorry for the critter, but you should also understand that their body will eventually decompose and rot. As a result, the decomposing bodies leave foul scents in your guttering.
At this point, you can either remove and replace the guttering or try to take out the rotting carcass inside the drainage system. You should know that removing and replacing the gutteringseem like a deceptively simple task. Several homeowners have already attempted to do it using DIY techniques, but failed to accomplish the task properly. However, if you think that this task is too much to handle, contact professionals as soon as you catch wind of an animal’s body decaying in your home’s gutters.
But, you can also remove the carcass if your hand can fit in these drain pipes. The idea here is to put on a good pair of rubber gloves and remove the dead animal accordingly. But, don’t forget to dispose of the animal’s dead body properly to avoid further contamination of the surrounding area.
Plants Dying
Have you wondered why your plants are dying even when you think you’re practicing proper care? Perhaps, one of the main culprits of your plants not growing healthily is because of your home’s drainage system.
Plants growing in constantly wet soil may suffer from a lack of oxygen. This event may lead to the roots’ death and loss of vigor for the plant.
Some symptoms of overwatered plants may include (but not limited to) the following:
- Stunted growth
- Yellowing of the leaves
- Leaf burn or scorch
- Edema (water-soaked blisters and spots) on the leaves and stems
- Rotting crown
- Damaged roots
If you want your plants to prosper, it should be in your best interest to check for overwatering signs. Note that overwatering incidents may happen more frequently in vertical plants than greenery on the ground. It’s because vertical plants may stick close to areas near your home’s gutters. Hence, if your location experiences heavy rainfall, these plants may catch the rainy weather’s breadth, leaving their soils to catch more water than usual.
Therefore, don’t forget to check your vertical plants for signs of overwatering. If so, your drainage system might need repairs or replacements.
Basement Flooding
It’s safe to say that most homeowners don’t want to wake up one morning to see a pool of water in their basements.
Infrequent maintenance practices for home drainage systems may lead to basement flooding. Perhaps, it’s because they failed to see (or foresee) the underlying issues that eventually led to their basements’ décor now swimming in water.
Don’t forget to check the following components during your maintenance for your drainage system:
- Sealing
- Weeping tiles
- Downspouts
- Gutters
- Pipes
- Water tank
- Sump pump
Households in regions with wet climates might be at a higher risk of basement flooding than homes in relatively dry areas. It’s because the constant pressure of downpours may develop cracks in the foundation. These seemingly small crevices may become massive fissures if left untouched and unfixed. You can use epoxy as a DIY solution to fill these cracks. But, you might encounter additional problems if you don’t fill these fissures correctly.
Here are a few quick tips to help you fill these cracks properly and reduce basement flooding risks:
- Start by injecting epoxy at a low pressure to avoid aggravating the crack. Increase the pressure as needed, but do it slowly.
- Use more epoxy injection pressure for large cracks.
- Don’t be in a hurry to fill the cracks. Wait for the substance to dry for a bit, especially if you need several applications.
- Be on the lookout for epoxy backflow. If the filling agent returns, it could be a result of debris blocking the flow.
- Check the seal for about 48 hours after application to ensure the epoxy seal stays stable and sturdy.
Remember, your home’s drainage system doesn’t only comprise of the pipes in the plumbing system. Always be on the lookout for drainage concerns that may appear that aren’t in the pipes. Thus, consider thinking outside the box during your home’s routine drainage checkup, and you can prevent your basement from turning into an indoor swimming pool. Look for the right epoxy product for your project from Gluegun.
Unknown Noises
Unknown noises coming from the pipes tend to be an immediate cause for concern for the property’s drainage system. These sounds may vary, depending on the issue at hand.
For instance, if you hear banging, this noise tends to imply that you may have a problem with water flow or pressure. If so, your home’s drainage may have trapped air bubbles and water hammers. Note that the pipes can trap air, especially if these components have issues. Noises will come from the pipes if the air inside causes sputtering as the air bubbles travel.
Consequently, water hammers occur when the faucet or valve in the system shuts off suddenly. The rushing water will cause a loud bang if the exit closes suddenly, and this incident may lead to damaged pipes if it occurs frequently.
Aside from banging noises, you may hear humming sounds from the pipes as well. If so, the water pressure might be too high for the system to handle. That humming sound is the pipes vibrating, and this event tends to happen for homes relying on well water. Check the nearby well to verify the condition of the tank. As a rule of thumb, the pressure should not be higher than 55 pounds per square inch. Otherwise, the pipes will begin to vibrate if the pressure is higher than that figure.
Next, you may also encounter rattling noises from the drainage system. If you hear these sounds, then the suspect might be poorly fastened pipes. Fasteners may come loose because of various reasons, such as earthquakes or small animals tinkering with the material.
Nonetheless, if you hear banging, humming, or rattling from the drainage system, it’s best to contact professionals immediately. These concerns tend to escalate if left unfixed for extended periods. Solving the issue quickly once found during your maintenance routine reduces the risks of serious drainage problems.
Conclusion
Create a routine to check the integrity of your home’s drainage system. Regular maintenance for drain components helps prevent issues, such as toilet water backing up, basement flooding, and plants dying in your lawn. You can use DIY techniques to help with the system’s maintenance and repairs. But, consider hiring industry experts if you think these jobs are too much to handle.