It can be annoying when you go to wash your hands and your sink takes forever to drain, or when water is still coating the floor of your shower hours after use. But it can also be dangerous, and speak to a growing problem in the foundations of your home. And trust us, we get it — nobody has room in their budget for yet another bill, so spending money to hire someone to examine the drain and fix it if necessary isn’t something to do lightly.
We also understand firsthand, however, how detrimental to your home and your wallet it can be to try and save a few bucks when the problem looks small. So we compiled our top 3 reasons why you need to get that leak checked out, and why you need to get it checked out now:
1.) Slow-Draining Pipes May Not Be Draining Where You Want Them To
Partially or fully clogged pipes are dangerous, because they can cause leaks, or in extreme cases, even burst pipes. But more on burst pipes later. What we’re concerned about here and now are leaks, and how even the smallest leak can be an insidious problem that will come back to haunt you later.
If you notice a slowed-down drain, while it’s obvious that the water isn’t draining as quickly as it used to, it’s still draining, so there’s no problem, right? Well, no, not necessarily. Unfortunately, even minor clogs can be indicative of problems that make hiring an expert a good idea. Clogged drains mean standing water — and even if the water’s only standing for a short amount of time, backed-up pipes give water the opportunity to find other avenues of escape. Like through weakened pipe joints, or even the smallest cracks in your pipes.
These problems have a tendency to magnify in size as they get worse, which is why catching them early is so important. Even a small leak could attract nearby foliage such as tree roots. Once tree roots make your clogged pipe even more of a problem than it presently is, your repair bills go up exponentially, and you’ll regret not taking the time to fix your pipes when it was just a small blockage that was causing a slow drain.
2.) A Clogged Pipe Is A Pipe Susceptible to Bursting
What typically comes to mind when you think of a burst pipe? Probably underused or uninsulated pipes in winter bursting when the water freezes. Pipes burst when water freezes because water expands a bit during the freezing process. This increases pressure on the inside of the pipe, which can lead to leaks or full-on bursts.
With clogged pipes, however, the pressure comes from water being forced through pipes coated in rust or clogged with hair. This buildup in pressure can exceed what the pipe is capable of holding, and then suddenly you’re up to your ankles in water.
3.) It’s Cheaper To Fix It Now Than Repair It Later
Preventative maintenance is always going to be cheaper than emergency repairs for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is that it’s a lot easier to fix. Drain unclogging may sound expensive, but it’s a small price to pay in comparison to emergency services when that same pipe bursts. A small leak in a pipe could just be patched up, but not taking care of the root of the problem can lead to a burst down the line.
The other reason to fix the core of the problem is the potential for collateral damage — the damage your leaky pipes can do to the parts of your house by inviting mold and mildew, or the havoc a burst pipe will wreak on everything around it, from floors to your personal property like furniture, electronics, and anything else sensitive to water damage. When you hire a professional to fix problems with your drains or septic tank systems, you’re also hiring someone to avoid potentially tens of thousands of dollars in repair bills when things go catastrophically wrong.
Get Your Drain Inspected Today
If any of these warnings have struck a chord with you, go ahead and give Webb’s Select-A-Service a call today. We’re the best around at what we do, and what we do make sure your drains, your home, and the rest of your property are protected from emergencies like those listed above!