When water drains slowly, you might tell yourself, “It’s only a little bit of standing water, I’ll worry about it later.” However, ignoring this issue is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make because the problem is only going to get bigger. When water starts to take its time going down your drains, it means something is building up inside of your pipes. And what you don’t realize is that blockage is already causing some major trouble that you can’t see.

The Danger of Rising Pressure

A clog acts like a dam, forcing water to back up and push against the sides of the pipe. When this happens in the pipes in your home, that constant pressure starts to damage the seals and connections. For example, a minor clog in your main sewer line can cause the pressure to affect drains all over the house. Any weak points in your plumbing system will burst, which will put you in a world of trouble. A burst pipe in a wall or under a floor can spill hundreds of gallons of water, which leads to massive, immediate water damage that costs thousands of dollars to fix.

Mold Growth and Considerable Health Risks

When a drain is clogged, the slow-moving water leaves behind bits of food, soap scum, and hair that will sit there and rot inside the pipe. This decomposition creates a disgusting smell that can cause you to feel as though you want to wretch, especially if there’s stagnant water. This is certainly unpleasant; however, the real issue is what that damp, dirty environment encourages to grow. Mold loves dark, moist places, and a slow-draining pipe provides the perfect environment for various types of molds to grow and thrive, including black mold. If mold starts to grow within the drain and spreads to the surrounding walls or floorboards, it creates serious health risks for your family. This is even truer for anyone in your household who has allergies or breathing problems. If mold growth develops, then you’re looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars on top of the cost of repairs, as you’ll need professional remediation services to maintain the integrity of your home and the safety of your family.

The Simple Fix Is Always Cheaper

Taking care of a drain when it first starts to slow down is always the cheapest and smartest option. A plumber can usually clear a minor clog very quickly with a special tool called a drain snake. This process takes less than an hour. If your pipes can handle it, you can opt for hydro jetting, which is a machine that sprays water at high pressure to clear pipe blockages. However, if you wait until the pipe backs up into your kitchen sink or spills sewage onto your basement floor, you’re calling for an emergency job. This costs much more because it’s hazardous and requires special equipment to mitigate. Plumbers must also wear rubber boots and other special protective clothing to remain safe on the job.

Don’t allow drain clogs to cause major trouble for you. Act today to keep your Mesa, AZ home safe and your wallet full by calling The Plumber AZ for drain cleaning services.