Dealing with a blocked drain can be highly stressful, often leading to unpleasant odours and unexpected expenses. A blocked toilet drain, in particular, can cause significant inconvenience for the whole family. This is why it’s crucial to identify blockages early, preventing further damage to the pipework and surrounding areas.
The sooner you detect an issue with your drain, the better. If you suspect your drain might be getting blocked, it’s important to diagnose and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
To help you recognise these issues early, we’ve put together a list of the most common signs of a blocked drain.
Before we delve into the specific problems that can occur in your home due to a drain blockage, here’s a quick guide to the initial warning signs:
Unpleasant odour – do you notice a smell similar to rotten eggs?
Slow drainage – are your sinks and baths taking longer than usual to empty?
Sluggish flush – is your toilet flushing more slowly than normal?
Water resurfacing – is waste water coming back up through drains, like the sink or toilet?
One of the clearest signs of a blocked drain is when your sink, toilet, bath, or shower is draining slowly. In severe cases, the water might not drain away at all.
If only one of these fixtures is having problems, the blockage is likely confined to a pipe connected to that specific appliance. However, if all fixtures are affected, the blockage is probably in the main sewer drain.
The toilet can be a useful indicator of the severity of the issue. If flushing the toilet causes water to rise in the shower, or if running the taps makes the water level in the toilet rise, you likely have a blocked drain.
Additionally, if using any water-based appliances causes water to appear elsewhere, this could also indicate a blocked drain. It’s a good idea to check external drains and manhole covers on your property for signs of rising water. However, always do this from the outside, as entering manholes can be extremely dangerous due to the risk of bacteria and hazardous gases.
