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Having a problem with your plumbing system is one of the worst feelings, especially when you have to spend thousands on repairs. This is why it’s so important to make sure you’re keeping up with regular plumbing system maintenance and taking care of any problems before they become too severe. This is especially true when it comes to the drains in your Chattanooga, TN, home. If you want to do everything you can to keep your plumbing system in good shape, you need to make sure you’re keeping an eye out for these five common drain problems so you know when to call a drain cleaning service.

1.  Slow Drains

Almost everybody has to deal with a slow drain at some point. Not only is it frustrating, it’s something you should call a drain cleaning service expert for because it’s indicative of a deeper problem.

Most people assume a slow drain is the result of a simple clog, but it could also be a buildup of minerals in a pipe. As a matter of fact, a slow drain can even result from improper grading of your drain pipes.

If you’ve tried a basic enzyme-based drain cleaner and it doesn’t seem to be making your drains any better, call a drain cleaning service to make sure your drain problems aren’t a result of something more serious.

2.  Recurring Clogs

When you’ve got a clogged drain, removing the clog is generally enough to keep you in the clear for a while. However, recurring clogs in the same drain are a sign of a bigger problem.

Just because your drain is repeatedly clogging doesn’t mean you’ve got a severe problem. It does, however, mean you likely aren’t getting the clog out entirely. Soap scum, hair and other clogs tend to stick around in pipes for quite a while if you don’t get them fully removed. A drain cleaning service professional can help make sure your drains are completely clear.

In some cases, there may be a clog somewhere deep in a drainage pipe that’s causing recurring clogs further up. If you’ve had a plumber clean your drains and you’re still dealing with recurring clogs, you might want to have them inspect your drain pipes with a camera.

3.  Drain Odors

One of the worst problems you can have with the drains in your Chattanooga, TN, home is a bad odor coming from the drain. Aside from the fact that it’s gross to have a bad smell coming from your drain, it could also be an indicator that you’ve got a major problem somewhere in a drainage line.

Odors that come from a drain originate in the sewage system, which means those sewage odors are finding their way into your home somehow. You could have a broken sewage pipe that’s causing the odor or it could be an issue of pollutants from sewage building up in your drain pipes.

Calling a drain cleaning service should always be your first move when you might have a sewage problem. Sewage is filled with gases and other pollutants that are harmful to breathe and expose yourself to, so you don’t want those gases getting into your home.

4.  Multiple Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are a common problem in both bathrooms and kitchens, especially if you’re putting the wrong stuff down your drains. However, these types of clogs can generally be removed pretty easily, and they don’t affect other areas of your home. If you notice numerous drains in your home are suddenly draining slow or completely clogged, call a drain cleaning service right away.

While most clogs occur fairly close to the top of the drain, there’s always the chance of a clog occurring in the main drain line. When you’ve got a drain this deep in your system, you can’t simply pour drain cleaner down the drain or use a plunger to remove the clog. Instead, you need the help of a drain cleaning service professional who can get deep down in your drain and remove the clog.

Since all the waste water leaving your home is routed through the main sewage line, it’s crucial to call a drain cleaning service as soon as possible. The longer you wait to remove a clog in your main line, the worse it’s going to get.

5.  Flooding

Any kind of flooding in your Chattanooga, TN, home constitutes a plumbing emergency, but it’s an even bigger emergency when the flooding is coming from a drain. The biggest concern with floods that occur around drains is what’s in the water.

Since drains are responsible for delivering waste water to the main sewage line which delivers it to the city lines, flooding from a drain could actually be a sewage backup. As we talked about previously, dealing with sewage is dangerous because of the pollutants and harmful gases it’s filled with. If you have flooding you suspect may be the result of a sewage backup, don’t touch the water and have a plumber get things cleaned up.

Sewage backups can be caused by a lot of things, so it’s a good idea to have a drain cleaning service inspect and clean your lines regularly. The cleaner your drainage pipes are, the easier waste water will be able to flow through them.

A Little Help

At the end of the day, it’s tough to keep up with plumbing maintenance and repairs if you’re not a professional. The best you can do is make an effort to look out for problems and get them fixed in a hurry.

Lucky for you, the team of experts at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air in Chattanooga, TN, are here to help. Whether you need drain cleaning services or an emergency plumber, we know how to get the job done. Next time you need a qualified plumber, give Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air a call at (423) 616-1025.