5 Signs Your Drains Have Collapsed

Collapsed drains are a serious problem that must be rectified as quickly as possible. There are 5 signs your drains have collapsed:

• Your home smells of sewage
• Your drains are running slowly
• There is damp around your home
• The building is damaged
• The ground in your garden is sinking

If you notice any of the above signs, you need to have them seen to as quickly as possible so that you can avoid further damage to your property and drainage system. Let’s take a closer look at the signs your drains have collapsed so that you know what to look out for.

Your Home Smells of Sewage

Having a home that smells of sewage is never a good thing and can cause significant hygiene risks to your home and family. If you begin to notice the smell of sewage inside or outside of your home, it is very likely you have a drain that has collapsed and is leaking wastewater through into the foundation of your property. If you notice a foul smell, call a professional plumber straight away and have them diagnose the issue so that a drainage company can provide a drain replacement or repair.

Your Drains are Running Slowly

Slow running drains are always a concern as they can mean there is a blockage in the pipe. If there is a blockage and the debris build up in your drainage system over time, it can eventually break the pipes. Slow running drains are a very common sign that you’re suffering from a collapsed drain.

If you’re unsure whether your drains are running slowly because of a blockagen or a collapsed pipe, it is worth following our advice on how to unblock a drain first to rule all other possibilities out. If unblocking the drain does not solve the problem, it is time to call in the professionals as you’re dealing with a collapsed drain and it’s something that only a professional can fix.

There is Damp in Your Home

Damp in the home has many negative effects on your health and also affects the structural integrity of your home. Damp is a common sign that wastewater is failing to leave your property, so it’s integral the problem is fixed as quickly as possible.

If you begin to notice damp creeping in around your home, in wet spots on the walls, around the windows, or near your pipes, it’s likely you’re dealing with a collapsed drain. Again, this is a job for the professionals, so always get in touch with a drainage expert so that they can fix the problem for you.

The Building is Damaged

The effects of a collapsed drain are well known for causing excessive damage to the structure of your home. If you’ve not noticed cracking on the walls of your home or around the foundations, it is very likely you are suffering from a collapsed drain. The constant leaking of water from a collapsed drain can significantly affect the structural integrity of your home, causing the foundations and walls to weaken.

Unfortunately, if you only take action once the signs of structural damage are made apparent, it is very likely the building itself will also need significant repair. Unfortunately, this can be a very expensive problem to fix! Therefore, it is extremely important to call a professional as soon as you begin to notice signs of a collapsed drain.

The Ground in Your Garden is Sinking

As your collapsed drains worsen, the signs and symptoms will begin making themselves increasingly clear. One of the most apparent signs is that of sinking ground in your garden. Otherwise called subsidence, sinking ground is caused by water leaking from the pipes into the ground and softening the soil, eventually causing the pipe to collapse.

If you start noticing collapsing or softening ground in your garden, it is time to call in the professionals so that they can have the problem fixed for you.

Find Out More on the Blog

If you would like more information about collapsed drains and what to look out for, you can find all the advice you need on the Coastal Drains blog. Here at Coastal Drains, we are passionate about keeping you up-to-date and properly educated about drainage systems and how to care for them properly. That’s why we are proud to provide advise on our blog written by the professionals.