Can Blocked Drains Cause Health Issues?

Introduction: The health risks of blocked drains

Ignoring blocked drains can significantly harm your plumbing system, leading to serious issues if left unaddressed. When drains become clogged with debris, water and waste can back up, leading to a number of health hazards.

Blocked drains can lead to structural damage in your home due to backed-up pipes.

This article explores the health risks of blocked drains, underlines the urgency in addressing clogs, and offers guidance on prevention, early detection, and when to call in a professional plumber.

With over a decade of experience, Penshurst Plumbing is well-versed in resolving drain blockages. By reading our guide, you’ll grasp the risks of clogged drains to the drainage your home relies on, and how to protect your family.

Bacteria and contamination from sewage backups

Blocked drains can cause raw sewage to flow back into your home. This sewage often contains harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other contaminants that can flow back and make you seriously ill.

Some of the most common bacteria found in sewage backups include E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter. Exposure to these bacteria can lead to gastrointestinal illness like diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps, and fever. In some cases, infections can even be life-threatening.

Additionally, raw sewage harbours chemical contaminants such as lead, mercury, and cleaning agents; prolonged exposure can lead to skin rashes, respiratory issues, and central nervous system damage.

Therefore, it’s critical to seek immediate emergency plumbing services for blocked drains.

The longer raw sewage sits in your home, withstanding the test of long time, the more significant the health risks become. Our team at Penshurst Plumbing has extensive training in safely containing and removing sewage backups while wearing protective clothing. We wear protective gear to prevent contamination that might cause further damage while restoring your plumbing system.

Spread of illness through stagnant water

Blocked drains lead to stagnant water pools, becoming breeding grounds for bacteria, parasites, and vectors like disease-carrying insects.

Stagnant water in clogged drains can attract mosquitoes, leading to potential infestations. Neglecting the maintenance of your sewer can escalate the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as Ross River fever, Barmah Forest virus, and Murray Valley encephalitis. In fact, mosquitoes carry more human diseases than any other creature on earth.

In warm climates like the Gold Coast, blocked drainage systems can quickly become mosquito breeding sites, exacerbating the problem. Just a small amount of standing water from a drain blocked can lead to thousands of mosquitoes over the course of weeks.

The stagnant water also allows pathogenic bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels. Contaminated water can transmit gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory infections.

Ensure your drains remain clear to protect your home from health risks, and swiftly address blockages to eliminate these breeding pools. Proper drainage sustains consistent water flow, safeguarding your homes from the threat of sickness. Our team at Penshurst Plumbing, in accordance with Department of Health standards, employs advanced CCTV drain inspections to locate all blockages when your drains are proving troublesome.

Our use of high-pressure jetting, mechanical cleaning, and safe drain treatments ensures pipes are cleared and water flows freely.

Pest infestations

These pests, on the prowl for a breeding ground, pose serious health risks.

Mosquitoes are especially problematic, as they breed easily in standing water. Drain blockages create stagnant pools, allowing mosquito populations to thrive.

Rodents are drawn to the shelter and moisture of clogged drains and may gnaw on pipes, increasing the risk of burst pipes. Rats and mice carry diseases that could trigger serious health issues like salmonella, listeria, and leptospirosis. They can even chew through plastic pipes, worsening leaks.

Cockroaches can also enter drains to feed on accumulated waste. Moreover, roach allergens and droppings can exacerbate asthma and trigger allergies. Getting rid of roaches requires clearing their food source - your blocked drain.

At Penshurst Plumbing, we understand the pest risks posed by blocked drains. Our drain assessments find all blockage locations so we can fully clear out your pipes. Proper drainage prevents future infestations, protecting your home.

Structural damage from water backups

When blocked drains prompt a call to a professional, the resulting water backup can cause severe damage to your home’s structure.

Constant water pressure pushing backward can warp your walls and cause drywall, flooring, subfloor and even concrete to deteriorate due to the effects blocked drains have. Blocked drains pose a risk to your home’s structural integrity, potentially causing foundations to crack, shift, or sink.

Repairing this structural damage is extremely expensive, and neglecting it could compromise your health, which is a situation you can get ahead of by addressing drain issues promptly. Walls compromised by damp may need replacing, can your mould bacteria remediation be exorbitant, and foundational repairs can soar past $10,000. Furthermore, without timely intervention, damage such as warped floor joists may become irreparable, jeopardising the very drainage system that supports your home’s health.

It’s essential to address any drain blockages swiftly with Penshurst Plumbing’s expert team. The sooner we can clear obstructions and get water flowing properly, the less risk there is of backups reaching vulnerable structural elements, so it’s critical to act as soon as possible.

Our CCTV drain inspections assess the drains your home counts on to pinpoint potential weak spots susceptible to future clogs.

Don’t wait for flooding or water stains to appear; call Penshurst Plumbing’s experts promptly. Schedule an inspection today to make sure your plumbing remains in tip-top shape, avoiding costly structural repairs down the road.

Signs you have a blocked drain

There are several clear signs indicating you may have a blocked drain:

• Experiencing slow drainage from sinks, tubs or showers
• Gurgling sounds coming from pipes when water drains
• Unpleasant sewer gas odours emanating from drains
• Toilets backing up or overflowing
• Pools of standing water around yard drains
• Clogged outdoor drainage causing flooded areas

These signs can indicate serious issues due to pipes blocked with debris, grease, tree roots, or other materials. Left unchecked, a blocked drain can cause water and sewage backups that serious damage your home.

Don’t hesitate to contact our team at Penshurst Plumbing if you spot any signs of a clog. Addressing the problem at the earliest ensures your plumbing systems are safeguarded against potential backups and overflows within your property.

Our high-pressure jetting, augering and pipe clearing techniques can tackle the common cause of blocked drains and remove even the most stubborn clogs. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment with our blocked drain specialists.

Preventing blocked drains

There are several key steps you can take to help prevent blocked drains:

• Steer clear of pouring food items, fats, oils, and grease down sink and into other drains within your home. These materials quickly solidify and coat pipes, which can end up leading to blockages.
• Utilise sink strainers to capture food remnants, scrapping plates and ensuring non-flushable items like baby wipes are binned instead of heading down the drain.
• Only flush toilet paper and human waste down toilets, and remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Items like tissues, wipes and feminine products can snag in pipes.
• Use a drain cover to catch hair and other debris, preventing them from entering the pipes.
• Regularly flush your drains with cold water mixed with baking soda and vinegar after a boiling water treatment to dismantle grease build-up and prevent blockages.
• Trim back trees and vegetation near drainage pipes to prevent invasive root growth and unnecessary water waste.
• Consider installing fine mesh screens on plumbing vents to block leaves and pests.
• Inspect your private septic tank and sewerage system annually to identify clogs or damage requiring immediate repair.

Following these tips helps prevent many avoidable blockages. However, if you face continual drainage issues or see warning signs of a clog, know there are things can do; reaching out to Penshurst Plumbing promptly is key. Our professional hydrojetting, pipe clearing and drain repairs can address even severe obstructions.

With regular drain maintenance and timely plumbing assistance, you can avoid destructive backups and keep pipes freely flowing 24/7.

When to call a professional plumber

Clearing a clogged drain on your own can be frustrating, messy, and hazardous. That’s why it’s important to call in a professional plumber as soon possible in certain situations.

Contact Penshurst Plumbing right away if you notice:

• Signs of dirty water and sewage contamination like foul odours or water discoloration
• Backed up toilets overflowing sewage into your home
• Large pools of standing water from a clogged sewer drain
• Sagging walls, floors or ceilings from excessive water pressure
• Numerous drains all blocked at the same time
• Recurring blockages that standard home treatments can’t resolve

Mechanically clearing blocked sewer lines or dealing with contaminated water is risky and is best avoided. To mitigate the harmful effects blocked drains bring about, Our trained Penshurst plumbers are equipped with professional hydrojetting tools to safely handle these hazardous situations.

Consider calling our team for a hassle-free solution before resorting to a plunger for common clogs. Our state-of-the-art camera inspections determine how blocked pipes are, accurately locating all obstructions, understanding that drains can also conceal smaller, harder to detect obstructions. And our powerful drain augers can clear even tough obstructions in kitchen, bathroom and shower drain pipes.

Rather than risk injury or actions that could damage your plumbing, it’s wise to leave the resolution of blocked drains to the experts. Call Penshurst Plumbing at 1300 349 338 or email [email protected]. Our adept team is ready to rapidly address any hazardous plumbing gas and pipe concerns with 24/7 emergency services, ensuring your home’s plumbing is proficiently restored.