When you think about San Diego, you picture lots of sunshine, beaches, and a very laid-back lifestyle.
But under all this glitz and glamor is a problem that plagues so many homeowners—faulty drains.
Left untreated, a faulty drain can lead to many problems, some of which can be extremely difficult to fix. Simply put, a faulty drain can ruin your whole day, and maybe even your home’s interiors if things get out of hand.
Now, one of the biggest problems with faulty drains is how subtle they can be. To the untrained eye, common drain-related problems can be easy to miss. So let’s take a look at some telltale signs that something is up with your drain and you need drain repair in San Diego.
1. Clogs and Slow Drainage
Are the sinks or shower drains in your home draining slower than usual? Then there must be something blocking the drain. Here are a few common signs of a clogged drain:
Dripping
The most obvious sign is that your drain is clogged. If you see water dripping from the drain pipe under your sink, there must be something in the drain pipe that’s obstructing the water flow. Also, since the pipe is dripping water, there might be some damage done to the pipe.
Gurgling
When there’s a blockage in your drains, you might hear a strange gurgling sound as the water passes through the drain pipe. This happens because the blockage in the pipe is trapping air and this makes it difficult for the water to pass through.
Standing Water
This is when water pools around the drain and it’s a very clear indication that the drain pipe is blocked. Standing water is very unhygienic and it can also cause water damage to your floors and other parts of your home if you leave it unfixed for too long.
2. Sewer Line Issues
The sewer line is a pipe that takes waste water away from your home. Problems with your sewer line can become very serious if left untreated. Here are a few things to look out for:
Bad Odor
A persistent sewage smell is a surefire sign that there’s something wrong with your sewer line. This smell could mean that there’s a blockage in your sewer line or the sewer line has gotten damaged, allowing wastewater to spill out.
Backflow
Now this is a very bad situation. If your sewer line is blocked, wastewater can back up into your toilets and drains. Sometimes, this problem could be due to the city’s main sewer line being clogged and not just your sewer line.
Lawn Overgrowth
Are the weeds in your lawn growing faster than usual, especially close to drains? This could be because sewer water is seeping into your lawn. If this is the case, the sewer lines may be damaged.
3. Slab Leaks
Slab leaks can be a pain for many San Diego homeowners. This happens when the pipe running through your home’s foundation slabs starts to leak and in most cases, these leaks can be hard to detect. Here are a few common signs of a slab leak::
Cracks and Moisture
Wet spots and cracks in your foundation slab could mean that water is accumulating in it. Also, high humidity levels in your home can indicate a possible slab leak.
Water Sounds
Slab leaks don’t always produce an audible sound, but when they do, a hissing noise or a trickling noise is heard if the leak is near the surface.
High Water Bills
If your water bill is higher than normal, this could mean there’s a leak, potentially a slab leak, somewhere in your home.
4. Why you should call a professional
If you need drain repair in San Diego, you should call a plumber. Here’s why you shouldn’t delay calling a professional plumber:
Preventing Property Damage
Left untreated, blocked and leaky drains can cause a lot of damage to your home. Water can damage your ceiling, floors, and walls so you should get the problem looked at to save you a lot of money on repairs.
Protecting Your Health
Leaks and standing water from blocked drains, especially sewer drains, can bring harmful bacteria and mold into your home, posing a major health risk for you and your family.
Having Peace of Mind
A well-maintained and functioning drainage system is important for any family home. By calling a professional for drain repair in San Diego, you can rest assured that your home’s drain problems are fixed and you can enjoy your San Diego lifestyle.
5. How to find the ideal plumber in San Diego
If you want your drain repair in San Diego done right, you need the right plumber for the job. Here’s how you can choose a good plumber:
Get Recommendations
Speak to your neighbors, friends, and family in San Diego to find out about plumbers they recommend.
Check Online Reviews
Go online and look at the reviews plumbing services in San Diego have got. Choose from plumbers who have received the most positive reviews.
Obtain Several Estimates
Call up a few plumbing companies in your area and ask them for estimates. Pick the price that best fits your budget but be careful of plumbers who offer suspiciously low prices—this could mean the quality of their services isn’t very good.
Ask About Experience
Talk to different plumbing companies and ask them how many years they’ve been in business.
Inquire About Upfront Pricing
Check if the plumbing company is upfront about their prices without any hidden prices.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some commonly asked questions about drain repair for customers in San Diego:
Can I just unclog my drains with chemical cleaners?
You can, but these chemical cleaners can cause irreparable damage to your drain pipes. It’s best to call a professional instead; they can clean your drains without using commercial cleaning liquids.
How often should I get my drains checked?
There isn’t just one answer to this. But generally, you should consider checking your drain at least once every year.
Will fixing my drains involve replacing pipes?
Only sometimes. If the damage to your pipes isn’t too severe, your plumber might simply remove the clog and leave the pipe in place. But heavily corroded pipes should be replaced.
Don’t delay drain repair in San Diego
Blocked drains shouldn’t be ignored for too long. If you do, you’re going to have a huge plumbing problem on your hands. But with the help of a good plumbing company that offers drain cleaning and repair services, you can prevent major plumbing problems and focus on living the San Diego dream!
