Can blocked drains cause flooding?

How Blocked Drains Can Lead to Flooding

Blocked stormwater drains are a precursor to flash floods when debris, grease, or tree roots impede water flow, causing backups and possible overflow within the drainage system.

Blocked drains leading to flooding typically result from debris accumulation in the stormwater system:

• Buildup of leaves, dirt, grease, and other materials flowing down your drain passages can significantly obstruct the flow of water
• Intrusion of tree roots blocked drain can cause water disruption and significant damage to drainage pipes
• Blockages from soap scum and hair, along with obstructions in plumbing vent pipes, can significantly clog drains and cause damage if not addressed.

As the blockage worsens, clogged drains may lead to water backing up and surging above drains in sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and even onto the floor. Ignored drain blockages can wreak havoc, culminating in flooded basements, damaged walls and floors, mould proliferation, and extensive property damage.

It’s crucial to heed blocked drain indicators such as gurgling noises, slow drainage, and foul odours to prevent substantial floods in your drainage system. Enlist skilled plumbers to address recurrent drain blockages and carry out necessary repairs to avert flooding and subsequent damage.

Common Causes of Drain Blockages

Tree Roots

Intrusive tree roots commonly cause drain blockages; Proper stormwater system maintenance can prevent such blockages from occurring. Trees like willows, elms, and figs have aggressive root systems that search for any cracks or weaknesses in plumbing systems, sometimes even infiltrating plumbing gas lines. Over time, the expanding roots within the pipes eventually prevent water flowing smoothly as intended.

Grease and Food Buildup

Grease, oil, fat, and food scraps from dishwashing can cling to sink pipe walls, creating stubborn clogs. As more debris accumulates, it forms a dense mass that traps other solids, which, if neglected, can lead to a situation where the drain backs up and escalates into a serious issue.

Foreign Objects

Whether accidentally dropped or intentionally flushed, certain items should not be allowed to enter your drains. Materials like wipes, paper towels, dental floss, hair, and feminine hygiene products can snag and tangle in pipes, where problems can begin and potentially let more debris find their way into the system, which can worsen clogs.

Identifying Warning Signs of Blocked Drains

Several key signs may suggest a blockage is impeding water flow in your drains. Being vigilant to these early warning signs is crucial to sidestep severe blockages and the harmful effects blocked drains bring about:

• Water slowly making its way into drain systems from sinks, showers and bathtubs
• Gurgling sounds echoing from your drains pipes
• An unpleasant smell or sewage odour coming from drains
• Water pooling around floor drains after use
• Your toilet backing up or overflowing
• Presence of water stains or mould on walls or floors around drains

DIY methods like plunging or snaking can often clear minor drain obstructions. But persistent signs may cause your plumbing to become vulnerable, prompting urgent contact with our experienced team at Bankstown plumbing services to prevent major pipe damage or severe water damage.

With advanced camera technology, our expert technicians thoroughly inspect and locate obstructions in your drain pipes, providing precise solutions. We can then employ an effective way to clear blockages using high-powered jetting, augering, or root cutting tools to clear even the most stubborn drain clogs.

Preventing Drain Blockages

Preventing drain blockages is essential to avoiding flooding disasters and property damage. Here are some tips homeowners and businesses in the Bankstown area can follow to water your garden, not your basement, and preclude events that might cause major flooding:

Regular Maintenance

It’s vital to regularly clean your stormwater drainage system, including the cold water lines and sinks, particularly with the changing seasons. Our Bankstown plumbers use high pressure jetting tools to get rid of blockage caused by any build up in your drains.

Avoid Pouring Fats/Oils Down Sinks

Let cooled fats, oils and grease solidify and dispose of them in the garbage. Pre-wash wiping of plates and cookware minimises the risk of sink clogs.

Install Protective Systems

Installing FloodStop valves can automatically cease water flow, preventing leaks and subsequent flooding. Drain mesh screens also filter out hair, food and debris from getting into your pipes.

Natural Drain Cleaners

For minor clogs, a home remedy of baking soda and vinegar can be effective. However, avoid caustic chemical drain cleaners.

Prompt identification of drain issues is vital to preventing catastrophic pipe backups and flooding.

What To Do When Blocked Drains Cause Flooding

If a blocked drain causes flooding in your Bankstown property, immediate action is critical to prevent water damage and health hazards.

First, immediately contact your Bankstown Plumbing local plumber at 1300 349 338 or jobs@bankstownplumbingservices.com.au to grasp the situation. In some cases, our team is on call 24/7, ready to employ your input to rapidly address the problem.

While waiting for our technicians to arrive, relocate any above-ground valuable possessions to prevent further harm. Only undertake removal of floodwater when it’s safe. Be extremely cautious of potential electric shock from wet appliances or outlets.

With a 'we guarantee’ commitment, our plumbers ensure your drains and sewer lines are equipped to manage blockage-induced incidents. We deploy professional pumping trucks and water extraction equipment to remove standing wastewater. After that, we safely evaluate and repair damages before performing thorough drain cleaning to prevent water from uncontrollably re-entering your space.

To avert contamination from viruses, bacteria, or mould spores in floodwater, we can also disinfect affected property areas. And we work directly with insurance companies if you need to file any claims for the water damage in your bathroom or other areas.

With our 24/7 rapid response times and advanced techniques for flood remediation, Bankstown Plumbing can get your property dried out and your drains flowing freely again. Contact us immediately whenever blocked drains put your home or business at risk of flooding.

Health and Safety Risks

Flooding caused by blocked drains can create major health and safety hazards due to bacteria, mould growth, and other contaminants within the water.

Sewage backup introduces dangerous pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, hepatitis A virus, giardia intestinalis, shigella, and streptococcus. Such exposure might precipitate a range of health issues, from gastrointestinal discomfort to dire infections.

The warm, moist environment left by floodwaters can often become a breeding ground for mould proliferation, liberating spores that can provoke allergic reactions or respiratory irritation. Some toxic black moulds like stachybotrys chartarum can cause chronic illnesses.

There is also a risk of electrical hazards and injuries from slip-and-falls in standing water, which preventive maintenance can do much to avert. Structural instability from water damage might also render your building treacherous to occupy.

To manage these risks to environmental health after drain-related floods in Bankstown properties, our licenced plumbers are specially trained in contamination control and safely clean your sewerage system. We wear protective gear during clean up and can fully disinfect affected areas to protect your family’s health.

Preventing blocked drains through vigilant maintenance is key to avoiding such flooding incidents and safeguarding your health in the first place.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

Promptly calling a professional plumber is crucial in cases of flooding or significant backups, particularly with septic tank involvement. Our licenced Bankstown plumbers have the expertise to rapidly respond, assess and resolve drain blockages before extensive damage occurs.

Contact Bankstown Plumbing immediately for any issues with your stormwater drainage:

• Large pools of standing water from an overflowing drain or toilet
• Foul sewage odours emitting from drains
• Gurgling sounds coming from toilet or sinks as water drains
• Leaking water around pipes or behind walls
• Sinking concrete around your sewer line in the ground can be indicative of a water leak

Early detection of plumbing problems is essential to prevent them from escalating into burst pipes and flooding catastrophes. Our plumbers can promptly excavate and evaluate pipe systems, offering quick remedies to forestall contamination and mould risks.

We utilize sophisticated cameras to detect clogs and modern jetting devices for thorough drain repairs. Any drain repairs or replacements are performed to the highest industry standards.

Avoid a flooding crisis. Schedule an inspection with Bankstown Plumbing to maintain clear drains and safeguard your property.