The Signs You Need Emergency Drain Repair for Your Mississauga Home

A sewer drain overflowing with water and a plumber crouched down next to it using tools to unclog it.
Seemingly harmless plumbing issues may indicate a much larger problem. It’s a good idea to understand how to recognize signs of serious plumbing issues early on to make sure a small problem doesn’t become a big one. You also need to know when a disaster is imminent so that you can arrange for emergency plumbing services such as emergency drain repair.

Despite the cause of a problem, a skilled plumber can help you find out what’s wrong. However, it’s helpful to understand plumbing problems so that you know when to call your trusted Mississauga drain repair experts.

To learn the signs that you require drain repair service from professional Mississauga plumbers, read on.

Small Problems Can End up Costing Big

If you’re not careful, drain repair pricing can add up. In Mississauga as well as across North America, residential water damage is a big problem.

For instance, American insurers paid nearly $13 billion in a single year to help consumers recover from water damage. Every day, almost 15,000 citizens there dealt with a residential water emergency.

On average, each of those insurance claims was over $10,000. Insurance experts forecast that 98% of homeowners will experience residential flooding at least once in their life.

A plumbing emergency is everyone’s worst nightmare. One minute everything’s fine. The next, you hear water dripping or rushing from someplace it shouldn’t.

Instinctively, that sound tells you that something very bad has gone wrong.

Non-weather-related water damage is the second most common insurance claim. Water damage is even a problem among new homes.

Often, the quality of materials used by developers doesn’t compare to those used by their predecessors.

Today, builders use lower quality materials to keep costs reasonable. This circumstance applies more so for tract homes.

Often, tract home developers used low-quality materials. This kind of housing is also subject to poor quality work, especially when it comes to plumbing.

Most often, plumbing and appliances may cause issues with your drainage system. It’s important to deal with these issues quickly.

Low Water Pressure Is Never a Good Sign

Low water pressure may seem like a minor problem – at first. You may notice lower water pressure after a contractor does work in your home.

Sometimes, after a contractor completes a job, they may inadvertently leave the main water valve partially closed. This problem is a relatively easy fix.

Another problem, however, is a faulty pressure regulator. A pressure regulator reduces your water pressure to a safe level. It prevents excessive damage from ruining your pipes.

Not all homes have pressure regulators. If you do have one, however, you’ll need a plumber to see if it’s working properly.

If your pressure regulator malfunctions, it can cause a sudden, large increase in water pressure. However, it can also create an abrupt reduction in pressure.

Another low water pressure problem may arise if your home has old steel water pipes. Over time, corrosion builds up in outdated steel pipes to the point that it restricts water flow.

Normally, you won’t see this happening. Over time, however, build up and corrosion can hinder water flow significantly. Steel pipe corrosion takes place over decades.

When it becomes a serious issue, however, you’ll know. You’ll need to replace all the pipes in your home.

When It’s More Than a Clog

Bubbling and gurgling in your drain may not seem like a big deal. However, it may indicate that your sewer drain is clogged. For instance, if water bubbles out of your shower drain every time you use the washing machine, you may have a problem.

A clogged sewer drain can cause problems throughout your whole residence. In a worst-case scenario, it can cause sewage to come out of your drains. You don’t want sewage to come out of your drains.

In older homes, tree roots can also wreak havoc with your sewer line. They’re attracted to warmth and moisture. They’ll sneak through the tiniest cracks, loose joints, and pipes to get to it.

You can also clog your main sewer line by flushing the wrong things down the toilet. There are some things that you should never do to your plumbing system. For example, you should never flush paper towels, facial tissues, or feminine hygiene products down the toilet. If you do, you better be ready to call for emergency drain repair!

Those Spots in the Ceiling Came From Somewhere

Discoloration, buckling drywall, sagging plaster, or dripping can make it look like water is coming right out of the ceiling. These markings ARE water and that water is coming from somewhere. It can only come from one or two places – your roof or your plumbing system.

Water coming from your ceiling indicates a severe problem. If you ignore it, the problem can turn into mold or can even cause structural damage.

Eventually, this kind of problem can turn into dripping. However, it starts with less serious issues, such as dampness showing up on the ceiling.

Pipes rarely, if ever, run through an attic. More than likely, the problem is with your roof if you see water coming through the ceiling on the top floor.

However, you may see water under a bathroom or kitchen as well as inside ceiling space with plumbing. Then, it’s very likely that one of those pipes has a leak.

Something’s Rotten in Denmark ... or Your Drains

Nobody likes bad odours coming from their drain. Still, there’s a lot of bacteria in kitchens and bathrooms.

Bacteria can create unpleasant odours. However, if that water is persistent and foul, you may have a serious plumbing problem.

If this happens in your kitchen, your first instinct is to turn on the garbage disposal, hoping to get rid of leftover food. When it doesn’t work, you know that you have a problem.

Give Sinks a Break

Sinks get a bad rap. They have a reputation for odours.

A lot of gunk and bacteria go into a drain, including grease, hair, and soap scum. Even if these items don’t clog the drain, they draw bacteria.

A clogged vent pipe can also make your drain stink. If your vent gets clogged, water can pool in it. Slow-moving water will create a stagnant odour.

Your drain odour issues may also come from plumbing errors. For example, if traps or vents are missing from your plumbing system, it can cause it to malfunction. Rotting drain tubes can also cause odours in your bathroom or kitchen sink.

Water Bill Sticker Shock

No one pays too much attention to their water bill – until they see one that makes their jaw drop. An unusually high water bill can indicate a plumbing issue.

If, for instance, you have a leaky faucet or showerhead, you may have a bigger problem than you imagine. Often, you can fix this kind of problem by replacing a washer.

It’s easy to replace a washer. Still, you shouldn’t ignore it.

Small leaks can add up to a big expense. As an example, a leaky or running toilet can waste 200 gallons of water in a day.

In other instances, the source of a leak is hard to pinpoint. For example, a crack or loose plumbing pipes can cause a leak in your outdoor irrigation system, even if you’re not using it.

It’s difficult to see irrigation leaks, especially if you’ve buried the lines. What you will notice, however, is a strange damp patch of grass in your yard.

Alternatively, you may notice that part of your lawn grows faster than the rest. This growth can indicate a rupture in your irrigation system.

The line that carries water from your meter connection to your home can also develop issues. Tree roots, and earth movement can all cause problems with this line.

If you see a sudden sharp increase in your water bill, call a plumber immediately. They can help you track down the issue and fix the problem fast.

What Lurks Behind Those Walls?

Water damage also hides behind walls. Dampness behind walls may not seem like much of an issue.

If you let it go too long, however, it can end up costing you severely. Water can seriously damage your walls, flooring and paint.

For example, light mold buildup is normal in areas such as a shower corner. There are, however, several signs that will let you know that you need to call a plumber. If you clean mold and mildew continually and it keeps coming back, you most likely have a hidden leak.

Mold loves moist, dark areas. A pipe that lies in a wall or under the floor is the perfect incubator for mold and mildew. The longer that it takes you to fix the problem, the faster mold or mildew will grow.

Blistering paint or wallpaper is another sign of a serious plumbing issue. Usually, a steaming hot shower won’t cause damage to your paint or wallpaper.

However, if moisture gets between the wall and the paint, it will break the bond that holds the covering to the wall. Typically, it takes a significant plumbing issue for this to happen.

Your Toilet May Be Trying to Tell You Something

If you hear a strange rumbling sound after you flush, you may have a problem with your plumbing system. With this issue, it’s hard to tell whether the problem is minor or major.

If your toilet gurgles, for instance, you may have a blocked line. When this happens, a clog typically creates negative air pressure.

Negative air pressure is when air pushes back against the flow of water, creating a gurgling sound. Sometimes, you’ll see bubbles when this happens.

The simplest version of this problem is that you simply have a clogged toilet. In that case, 10 to 15 plunges should clear the line. If not, you may have to try a drain snake.

If these simple fixes don’t work, there’s another possibility. You may have a blocked vent stack.

The vent stack controls the air pressure of your plumbing and releases exhaust gas. If it gets blocked, it will create negative pressure. It may also create a gassy sewer smell in your home.

In Mississauga, Ontario, an animal nest is a common cause of a blocked vent stack. Other times, an unfortunate rodent may have seen this last day in your vent stack, resulting in the blockage.

Ending Plumbing Problems Once and for All

In a perfect world, any drain problem you have would prove minor and you could fix it easily. In the real world, however, sometimes things go devastatingly bad.

If your sewer line gets blocked, for instance, you may have a bad plug in the line that runs to the main sewer. Tree roots often cause this kind of problem.

To fix it, you could rent a sewer rodding machine. Sometimes, manufacturers call their rodding machine a sewer snake.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, however, you can damage your drain and sewer line. For serious problems, it’s better to call emergency drain repair professionals.

Professional plumbers are licensed and insured. If something goes wrong, they can resolve the issue quickly.

When You Need Emergency Drain Repair in Mississauga

No homeowner in Mississauga wants to get caught in the middle of a plumbing nightmare. Plumbing emergencies are inconvenient and stressful. What’s worse, they can cause serious property damage when left unresolved.

Even seemingly small plumbing or drain repair emergencies can cause big damage. An inch of water can lead to drain repair costs that approach $35,000 in damage.

If you have a plumbing emergency or think you have a serious plumbing issue, contact Mr Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON. If you want plumbing made simple, we can do it for you. Our Mississauga plumbers are ready 24/7 to tackle your emergency drain repair service needs. Call today for prompt and professional service from licensed and insured experts!