Blocked drains and toilets.
A blocked toilet or drain is one of the most unpleasant plumbing problems and needs immediate attention. It can also pose a significant health risk. If your toilet isn’t flushing right, don’t leave it until it’s too late and overflows to the gully trap or bowl.
A blocked toilet or drain is a serious health issue and can cause significant damage to your home and bathroom.
Five common signs of a blocked toilet or drain are:
Foul smells.
The immittance of foul odours is an obvious indicator of a blocked drain or toilet. A build-up of sewer waste in your pipes produces gases. These gases build up pressure and then leak out via fixtures and vents throughout your home.
Foul smells coming from around your bathroom, kitchen sink or toilet are all indications that your drains may be blocked. If you notice these smells, it’s time to give us a call. The quicker you address it, the better.
Slow draining toilet or sink.
If your toilet or sink is slow to drain, it’s time to call a plumber. The vacuum effect of a blocked drain will often mean the water level takes significantly longer than usual to drop and may even drop lower than expected in the toilet bowl. Any change to the flush rate of your toilet is a sign you have a problem.
Similarly, if your kitchen or bathroom sink drains slowly, it’s time to call a plumber. Either way, both are common signs of a blocked toilet or drain and need to be attended to before further damage is caused.
The toilet bowl immediately fills up.
If you flush your toilet and the bowl suddenly fills up, then your toilet is blocked. This is a sure sign of a blocked toilet that may be isolated only to the trap. Usually due to a foreign object being flushed down the toilet, like a child’s toy.
Do not try to flush your toilet again until the water has dropped to a normal level. It’s unlikely the object will pass through, so best to call a plumber as your toilet will most likely need to be removed to clear the obstruction.
Gurgling sounds.
Another sign of a blocked toilet or drain is a gurgling sound from other sinks and drains in your home and bathroom. The liquid to air ratios changes when drains are blocked, causing sewer gases to escape through seals and vents within your system.
If you notice are gargling noise, don’t ignore it as it’s a sign of more significant problems on the horizon. Garling noises are an early warning sign of a blockage that can easily be cleared. Left unchecked, it can become much more expensive to repair.
Overflowing gully trap.
A gully trap is located outside your home and designed to prevent blocked sewerage from discharging inside your home. It is usually a loosely fitting round grate somewhere in your yard. Ensure it is not obstructed with pot plants or cover by garden beds or anything that prevents the grate from popping and discharging sewerage outside. People commonly place pot plants on top of this drain to hide it, not knowing why the drain is there.
If there is toilet paper or water on the ground around your overflow relief or gully trap outside your home, you have a blocked drain or toilet and serious health risk associated with the raw sewerage. You will also notice a foul smell.
