Signs You Need A Drain Cleaning Service | Myrtle Beach, SC

Signs You Need A Drain Cleaning Service | Myrtle Beach, SC

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Your drainage system is a crucial part of maintaining the health of your home, but drains can become clogged for many reasons. As a result, you may need to call out a drain cleaning service in Myrtle Beach, SC. But why do your drains become clogged? This article discusses the many reasons this can happen and some signs that you may recognize as symptoms of your drains becoming clogged due to specific issues.

Why Do Drains Become Clogged?

Drains can become clogged for a huge range of reasons. Sometimes, they may be too small to handle the amount of sewage and other water run-off that’s coming down them. This is particularly common when there’s been an extension, and the drainage system hasn’t been upgraded. Alternatively, it may occur as a result of extraordinary amounts of stormwater suddenly entering the system, which can back up sewage and cause overflowing.

More commonly, however, drain clogging occurs as a result of items entering the sewage system that shouldn’t. Classic examples include diapers, baby wipes, face wipes, and large amounts of fat and grease. These can combine to create immovable masses in your drainage system that simply won’t shift with the generous application of drainage cleaner but need an actual drain cleaning service.

Other causes of blocked drains in Myrtle Beach, SC, include tree roots breaking into the drainage system in their search for water. As the tree roots grow — and they often grow even faster than usual as a result of the extra nutrients they are receiving — they catch all the solid waste that’s been transferred through the drainage system and eventually cause a clog needing drain cleaning service.

Another common reason is because of leaves and other debris entering your wastewater system. These typically come off your roof and via your gutter. If you have a sudden deluge, a lot of leaves may enter the system at once, and if there is already a small pre-existing problem, it can turn it into a major issue very quickly, especially once the pressure has built up within the system.

How Do You Know Your Drains Are Clogged?

Drain clogs are very easy to spot: Your wastewater stops draining, and sewage gets backed up into your house. This will be extremely apparent when devices that use a lot of water, such as washing machines, discharge into the wastewater system and the effluent comes up through a nearby drain.

You may also notice the classic sewage odor.

If a pipe has split as a result of the clog or tree root ingress, however, it may be a little more difficult to spot. In many cases, it will leak water out into the surrounding area, creating a slightly boggy patch. Again, this may have a sewage odor, and you may also notice that any grass in that area is unusually verdant even during times of drought.

Preventing Blocked Drains

Regular maintenance is crucial, and it’s essential that you learn to spot the signs of clogged drains. Typically, a blocked drain doesn’t just happen — there are usually signs of wastewater being slow to disappear down the drain initially. If you see a sink that isn’t emptying as quickly as usual or that there is a bit more odor than usual, it may be because your drainage pipes are starting to block up.

Preventing blocked drains often means not flushing away products that aren’t really designed to be flushed. Although many wipes market themselves as “flushable,” this simply means that they can physically fit down the toilet. Most drainage systems cannot actually handle cotton-based wipes because they do not break up as quickly as toilet paper does.

The same applies to most other material-based products, including those made of rubber or latex. Again, these do not break up when they enter the drainage system, so they can cause substantial blockages. Diapers are especially harmful to your sewage system due to their size and their ability to absorb large quantities of water. Avoiding flushing these items and instead, throw them into the trash, which is the best way to avoid drain blockages.

Solutions to Blocked Drains

In some cases, a blocked drain can be solved by pouring a suitable drain cleaning solution down it. However, this doesn’t always solve the main issue that caused the blockage.

In some cases, a drain cleaning service is required. This is especially important if you think you have a series of blockages or you believe that tree or shrub roots have entered the system.

In most cases, a drain cleaning service will start with an inspection of your drainage system. This can involve 360° cameras and other pieces of technology that they can use to check the condition of the pipes. This helps identify where problems have occurred and helps the company create solutions that are specifically tailored to your situation. This might mean rerouting plumbing or digging up troublesome tree roots, or it might simply involve physically removing the blockage and providing advice on how to keep the drains free from blockages.

Ultimately, a good drain cleaning service will help sanitize your drains, remove any clogs and help you ensure that the problem doesn’t recur.

They may also be able to recommend solutions to prevent natural debris such as leaves and gravel from getting in. For guttering, this might involve the use of gutter liners that prevent leaves from traveling over the gutters, instead of catching them and reducing the risk that they enter the wastewater system. If gravel is an issue, a solution might be to resin bond the gravel so that it doesn’t flow freely, and this also makes it a more pleasant surface on which to drive.

Get a Reliable Drain Cleaning Service Today

When you need a reliable drain cleaning service in Myrtle Beach, SC, talk to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach today. We can provide a range of solutions ranging from drain cleaning services to complete plumbing repairs and installations, and our technicians focus on how they can help you, the customer, and deliver a tailored solution that’s perfect for your needs.

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