The drains that circulate liquids in and out of our homes go largely unnoticed in our day-to-day lives. They’ve gone through so many decades of innovation, updates and efficiency drives that we’re often almost entirely unaware of their existence – such is their quality in the modern era. However, drains do become blocked for a wide variety of reasons, and they’re often so hidden away that we require specialist knowledge and help to rectify the problem before it becomes a major disruption in our lives. Here’s how to spot a blocked drain on your property, or in your place of work.

Standing Water

The key evidence of a good deal of blocked drains is standing water. This is especially important to notice in places in your home that you might otherwise overlook – including the drain ducts outside of your home in winter, where you might expect there to be a little standing water after rain showers. Standing water indicates:

• Some forms of drainage systems fail to remove the water efficiently.
• There might be a physical block that’s been placed over a key drainage utility.
• An error or fault might have occurred in your plumbing that leads outside your home.
• The water system of your neighbourhood might have been overloaded by rainfall.

Whatever the case in your circumstances, you must investigate standing water in or around your property, and call a blocked drain specialist if you feel that you have an issue you cannot locate and resolve yourself.

Slow-Draining Plugs

There’s nothing more frustrating than a slow-draining plug. Whether it’s in the shower, slowly filling up at your feet and threatening to overflow your low shower basin, or in your sink after you’ve been washing up, a slow-draining plug is usually evidence that you have a partial block in some of your drainage and plumping systems. Ask yourself some key questions:

• Has this problem always existed, or is it new?
• As time goes on, is this issue getting worse and worse?
• Can you see any signs of blockage near the surface of the plug-hole?
• Do you know where this water is draining to, and if so, is there an issue there, too?

If you can locate the problem, you may well be able to deal with it on your own. If, however, you’re confused by the issue, and it’s getting worse, then you should consider bringing in a specialist like Quick Clear Drainage before your issue escalates further.

Smells

Sadly, the final tip is also the most repellent. Sometimes, the drains that block in our home are related to our sewage connections, or to the ‘grey water’ that flows from our sinks and showers. All of this water is technically contaminated and needs to be ferried away from your home as soon as possible, and a clear sign that it’s not getting sent away is if you can smell something in or outside your home. Be aware of sewage or rotting food smells in your drains to pre-empt a more disastrous blockage.

These tips will help you spot and respond to a blocked drain in your property – helping you rectify your issue before it becomes more serious.