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Posted on October 13, 2021 by

Pet cat in a bathtub in Greenwood, IN

What Happens When You Ignore a Clogged Drain

While a clogged drain is a nuisance, it's also understandably easy to put off. Especially if the drain still works for the most part. So the drain now moves a little slower. What’s the worst that can happen, right? 

A lot. 

Though frustrating to deal with, ignoring a clogged drain in your home can actually lead to some pretty big hassles later on.

Read on to learn more about how these clogs happen and the potential complications that come with this seemingly harmless problem.

How Drains Get Clogged

From rinsing off the dinner plates in the kitchen sink to leaving hair in the bathroom sink, a lot of debris slips down the drains unnoticed. 

It’s all too easy to assume that what disappears down the drain is gone forever, but unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. All it takes is some piece of debris to stick to the pipe一often because of grease or gunk一for a clog can start. 

At first, this won’t be a huge deal. You may not even notice you have a clog. Over time, these clogs grow as more debris enters the drain and gets stuck. Some of the most common culprits that clog up your drains include: 

  • Soap scum
  • Oils, grease, and fats
  • Hair
  • Food debris
  • Minerals
  • Toilet paper

A professional drain cleaning service can make quick work of clogged drains affecting your home without making the problem worse. Despite your best intentions, it’s easy to accidentally do more harm than good in an attempt to clear clogs by yourself. A professional drain cleaning plumber has the experience and equipment at hand to determine the cause of the clog and eliminate it quickly. 

What Happens When You Ignore Clogged Drains

So what happens if you decide to leave the minor clog. Will it go away on its own? Will it stay the same, just a minor inconvenience you can deal with later? 

The answer is no in both cases. Not only will it not go away, but it will also continue to get worse. Here are just a few of the complications a clogged drain can cause in your home. 

Foul Odors

All drain clogs start off small, usually the result of food or hair that gets stuck. These small clogs quickly grow as more debris lodges in your pipes. Areas of accumulated debris collect bacteria, which will eventually begin to smell. 

At first, unpleasant odors may only be noticeable around the sink, but over time if not attended to, they will begin to spread through the entirety of your home. 

Leaks

As the clog becomes bigger, eventually not allowing anything to pass through, the water will have nowhere to go. This causes pressure to build up in the pipes. When this pressure is great enough, it can cause the pipes to burst, resulting in leaks. 

Bugs

Stagnant water from clogged drains attracts the kind of company you don’t want in your home.

Drain cleaning is the only way to get rid of these uninvited guests, so it’s best to handle the issue before bugs have a chance to start settling in. 

How to Prevent Clogged Drains

Like the other systems in your home, your drains play a significant role in keeping your home comfortable and operational. It doesn’t take much to care for your drains. A few simple changes around your home can make a pretty big difference in preventing future clogs, such as: 

  • Installing drain screens and drain hair catchers 
  • Not pouring any oils or grease down the drains
  • Not flushing anything down your toilet that isn’t waste or toilet paper

Though mindfulness alone about what you flush or drop down your drains goes a long way by itself, the single best way to prevent clogs is through regular drain cleaning. 

Professional Drain Cleaning

Annual drain cleaning ensures that your drains stay clear all year round. Professional drain cleaning services use high-pressure water to blast away any debris that may be caked to the pipes, stopping future potential clogs before they even start. 

If drain cleaning plumbers detect any clogs forming, they can use augers to snake through your drains and break them up. 

Drain cleaning plumbers are trained to quickly identify any issues with your drain and implement the right strategy to clear them. That’s why hiring a professional to maintain your drains is an essential part of maintaining a healthy drain system in your home. 

Expert Drain Cleaning Services in Franklin, IN

If you need drain cleaning for your home, you don’t have to look far. For over 60 years, the plumbing experts at Kellie Plumbing have been providing exceptional plumbing and drain cleaning services to our neighbors in Franklin, IN. If you’ve got a clog, make us your first call.