Harmful Effects Of Blocked Drainage To Your Home And Health

Posted by Smauel on January 24th, 2022

Home maintenance is a never-ending task. Even a minor problem can badly hinder your daily routine and living style. Continuous investment of both time and money is required to keep your home updated and functional. However, most homeowners tend to pay attention to the visible areas, neglecting the invisible areas such as plumbing and drainage. This ignorance causes silent damage, and by the time you realize it, the damage is already hard to handle. 

One of the most significant areas to look for the invisible problems is the blockages in your draining system. Clogged drains are hazardous not only for your home’s functionality but also for the health of your loved ones. Blocked drains adversely impact the structural integrity of your home, make it inhabitable, and raise your maintenance and repair bills. 

Some common reasons for drain blockages are

• Broken pipes

• Mineral buildups

• Food and other hard particle accumulations

• Soap 

• Toilet paper build-up

• Dirt and debris

• Tree roots or branches going down the drain

The only way to avoid the bigger draining problem is regular inspection. You can do it yourself, but a professional drain cleaner can do it better and pinpoint any problem before it becomes too big to handle. The article below motivates you to schedule regular drain inspections by explaining the adverse effects blocked drains can have on your home and health. 

Health Risks

Clogged drains can cause numerous health hazards for you and your family. You might be falling victim to allergies without any apparent reason; the culprit can be your malfunctioning drains. For instance, the blocked drains can aid bacteria and mold growth that cause allergies and diseases. 

The drains are not flowing out; hence they flow back; by this time, you will start experiencing slow drains in your sinks and tubs, and sometimes the water is just stagnant. This water has bacteria in it, and the more you use the sink, the more are the chances for you to catch viruses and other contaminants. 

The bacteria in the water or air make the environment in your home cramped and even worse if you or your family member suffers from sinus and other allergies. The contaminated air and water have irritable effects on human skin, causing skin irritation and worsening the situation of those suffering from eczema, hay fever, and asthma. 

Helicobacter is the most common type of drain bacteria. When exposed to it, a man can develop peptic ulcers that are characterized by swelling in the inner lining of the stomach. Moreover, the kids are more prone to be affected by these diseases. Therefore, it is better to get the drain problems inspected and solved before the damages get out of hand. 

Effects On Home

Bad drains have both structural and functional adversities on your home, including 

Bad Odor 

Blocked drains stop water from flowing, and water becomes stagnant in the pipes releasing the foul smell in your home, making it inhabitable. 

Moreover, with time when the debris becomes too big, it completely blocks the pipe, hindering the water from entering the pipe. When the blocked pipe dries up, the smell of rotten food and other particles is released in your home directly as there is no moisture to absorb the smell. 

As obvious as it is, no one likes to live in a stinking place; adversely, it also causes skin irritations, tiredness, and headaches. 

Leaks 

Long unattended drains blockages cause pipes to leak. Usually, you get to know about the problem when the paint on the walls or ceiling starts coming off, or they get yellow stains on them. Sometimes, the leaks cause the growth of molds and mildew on your walls or ceilings, making them appear green and unpleasant. This stage shows the conditions are now beyond just getting your drains cleared. It now needs proper plumbing repairs or even installation of new pipes.

Read More: WHY IS MY HOME PLUMBING LEAKING?

Bacteria And Mold Accumulation 

Insects, flies, and pests thrive best in wet environments. For instance, mosquitoes multiply and grow in stagnant water. Blocked pipes with filled water provide the ideal breeding ground for them. Similarly, mildew and molds grow in the wet conditions and damage the walls and ceilings of your house, at worse weakening them to the extent that they can fall anytime. 

Slow Drainage 

Slow drains are the most annoying and obvious signs of clogged drains. This impacts the functionality of your house and results in time-wastage. If you previously cleaned your kitchen or bathroom in an hour, the slow drains may require you to spend two hours doing the same work. The water passes through the drains; it can be due to stuck food particles, or debris, or maybe a broken pipe. Whatever the reason is, the inconvenience is unmatched. Sometimes when the blockage worsens, the water may flow back, causing all the drain-related structural and health damages.