Every building has a drainage system, it is an important part of your home or commercial business. If there is a problem with your drainage system, it can cause a lot of issues and problems to your home or to your business. Clogged drainage systems can create an inconvenience and possible safety issue to you. If water cannot flow from your pipes, then harmful bacteria can build up causing a disgusting odour. Obstruction of drainage systems can be caused by many things, including

• *  Paper

• *  a build-up of debris

• *  any foreign objects caught in the drain

• *  a build-up of debris

• *  grease

Being aware of drainage issues, watching out for them and preventing them can save you a lot of money in repair costs down the road. Sometimes drainage issues can be remedied with drain cleaners; however, if they are quite serious, you may need professional help. Here are some of the main causes of drainage problems that you need to be aware of:

1. Build-up of Sediment

If your tap flow goes from free flowing to a light trickle, then you may have a buildup of sediment in your pipes. Hard water contains plenty of minerals and those are deposited onto surfaces as the water passes through pipes. Over time water is reduced to a slight trickle with no pressure. You can clean the filters and other removable parts of your water supply and soak them in a solution that removes the buildup overnight.

2. Drains Are Slow

When drains are slow it could mean you have a blockage. There are many things that can clog drains including hair, soap scum, food waste, toilet waste or other debris. This slow drain can cause puddling when you are in the shower. You can try to remove the drain blockage yourself with a plunger or a drain snake or you can contact a professional plumber to deal with the drain blockage.

3. Plant / Leaves Debris

Any outdoor drains are subject to becoming clogged with plant debris build-up. During the fall when plant materials fall from trees and land on the ground, and are followed by rain, fragments collect with sludge and slide into your drains. Tree roots can also grow into drains and limit drainage. You should try not to plant any trees near your drains that can cause damage to them including palm trees, oak, magnolia and willow.

4. Poor Installation

When people want to save money, they might try to make repairs on their own to pipes or drainage systems. If you know what you are doing, this can be a great option; however, if you are not the handiest person, it is best to leave this to experienced professionals who will do a good job.

5. Low Pressure/Slow Tap Flow

If the flow of water from your taps is slow and you have very low water pressure, this can be an indicator of a blockage. If your drain pipe is broken, this can also lead to low water pressure. You may not know which of these is the issue, but it is important to decide as soon as you can and not to ignore the problem or it will become worse or may even develop into an emergency.

6. Flooding

Any flooding is not a good thing. If any of your drains are flooding, whether inside or outside of your home, it is time to call in some professional help to deal with it. Flooding can cause odours (mold/mildew) and blocked drains can cause flooding. Once you develop a blockage, it will only worsen over time.

7. Mysterious Sounds

If you hear weird sounds in your drains such as gurgling, it could be the result of air that is caught in your pipes or drains. Every drain has some type of small gurgle, but if it is extremely loud, there may be an issue the requires investigation on your part.

8. Smelly Odours

A blocked drain can cause smelly odours to permeate your home. You can try to cover up the smell, but that will not deal with the issue. If the odour becomes quite strong, it is time to deal with it before your drains are no longer functioning.

9. Problems with Your Lawn

If you notice that you have areas on your lawn that are flooded or soggy or see quite a lot of plants growing near your sewer line that were not there previously, it may be time to deal with your drains that are blocked. The soggy areas and flooding are usually caused by leaks in your drains or holes in your pipes. You should investigate the issue, find the problem and have it repaired quickly.

10. Burst Pipes

If you have a burst pipe, it will be because of a drainage issue. When a pipe bursts, you will need to immediately turn off water at the main source quickly. If you do not do this, it can lead to some serious damage. Once the water has been turned off, the pipe that burst will need to be quickly repaired so that you can turn the water on once again.

One of these issues, or a combination of them, are serious drainage issues that should be dealt with as soon as they are discovered. It is important to not let these problems get out of hand because they will lead to more issues and further expense. It is very important to identify the source of the issue and repair it quickly. If you are not handy, have no idea where to look to solve the problem or just need help, it is a good idea to call an experienced plumber to rectify the issue. You should call as soon as you discover an issue to prevent more issues from developing.

Read more about Drainage Issues