When your home’s drainage system is working properly, it probably isn’t something you put a lot of thought into. But, take a moment to think about how much water you actually use within your home in a day. With daily activities like showering, washing your hands, flushing the toilet, running the dishwasher, washing your clothes, watering your garden and so on, it likely adds up to a lot!

All the water you use in your home also needs to leave your home—and it’s often taking all kinds of debris along with it as it travels through your drainage system. Over time, this debris can build up, which can cause havoc on the efficiency and function of your drainage lines.

Drainage lines are underground and out of sight, so without regular cleaning, chances are you won’t spot a problem in your drains unless it’s too late. Dealing with a drainage or sewer problem that has gone unchecked can be very inconvenient and costly.

But, when is the right time to call for professional drain cleaning services? Here we share four times you should consider having your drains cleaned.

Once a Year

By committing to annual drain cleaning, you will improve the life and efficiency of your home’s drainage system. Annual drain cleaning means quicker drainage throughout your home, preventing leaks caused by blockages or build up and can help protect you from experiencing a plumbing emergency.

As part of a Preventative Maintenance Plan

Having a preventative maintenance plan for your drainage lines will help you catch potential issues before they turn into big, expensive problems. A routine drain cleaning will cost you a lot less than fixing a major problem in your lines.

For example, if you discover damage to your drainage system that’s so severe you have to replace the lines (like a major leak or corrosion), it could potentially cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Because your drain system is underground, replacing a line would mean digging up your yard so a professional contractor can access and replace your damaged lines—definitely not a quick or inexpensive undertaking!

Or, if you end up with a sewer back up in your home, it could mean you have to replace everything from your furniture to your flooring, to your drywall. That means months of repairs and renovations. Not only is a backup messy, but it can also be dangerous. It can cause a sewer gas leak, which is toxic (and, not to mention, smells terrible).

As a homeowner, sticking to a preventative maintenance plan and having your drains cleaned regularly will give you peace of mind that your drainage system is running properly.

If You Have an Older System

Although all homeowners can benefit from having their drainage lines checked regularly, it’s especially important to have older drainage systems inspected. Like any other part of your home, your drains will experience wear and tear over the years. Drainage systems can erode and collapse over time, so an older system is more likely to have a problem than a new system.

Also, older homes are more likely to have mature trees or shrubs with deep roots growing nearby. If you’ve got trees or shrubs growing within about ten feet of your sewer system, you’ve got a good reason to get your drains checked consistently.

Tree roots are a common problem for sewer lines. The roots can grow around your sewer line, putting so much pressure on it that it eventually cracks. The root may then start growing right into the line, causing a major blockage.

Once a tree root has taken over a sewer line, the line will need to be replaced. Replacing a sewer line is a big process that involves excavating the yard to replace the pipes.

If You Have a Drainage Emergency

A drainage emergency is no time for a DIY! If you notice slow drainage, the smell of sewage in (or outside your home), water pooling in your backyard or, in more extreme cases, water bubbling up from your drains or sewage backing up in your home, contact a professional drain cleaning service or drainage technician right away.

Waiting out any of these problems or trying to fix them yourself could lead to a bigger, more costly repair in the end.

All in all, having a preventative maintenance plan, getting your drains cleaned annually, paying special attention to an older drainage system and letting professional drain technicians handle any drainage emergencies that come up can help you deal with any drain issues before they turn into big, expensive problems. Routine drain cleaning will cost you a lot less in the long run and will help keep your system running efficiently.

Consider IVIS Construction Inc. your first choice for a top Edmonton drainage technician and contact us today to schedule your professional contact us today. Find us on Instagram