Drains typically become clogged from an accumulation of hair, food waste, debris, soap scum and other materials within your pipeline. This is why your pipes need to be cleaned on a regular basis. However, for most of us, cleaning our drains isn’t a procedure we look into until the symptoms become undeniably evident. Below are some of the major signs that your drain system may need maintenance:-

1. Water backing up – Water continuously backing up from your kitchen sink or bath tub is one of the tell tale signs that your pipes need servicing. This is because the obstructions are not allowing the water to pass through the pipes smoothly. As a result, this causes the water to accumulate at the sink drain.
   
   
2. Foul odors emitting from your drain – Unpleasant smells from your drains are often an indicator that there may be pieces of food and gunk that have built up within the pipe.
   
   
3. Drain producing gurgling noises – A common misconception is that the gurgling noise coming from your drain system is part of the plumbing process. Unfortunately, it is a characteristic of a clogged pipeline. When there are obstructions within your pipeline, the free flow of water is restricted. This causes air bubbles to back up within the pipe since it has nowhere to escape. This process is what creates the gurgling sound.
   
   
4. Water draining slowly – Slow drainage is often synonymous with blockages. Hair, soap scum and food residue build ups typically restrict the movement of water within the pipelines.
   
   
5. Puddles of water settling around your toilet, sink or bathtub – Though there may be many causes for this issue, a clogged pipe is one of the possibilities. This is because overtime the accumulation of debris, grease and other materials can create a blockage within the pipe that can lead to a leakage.

    

When these situations occur, it is important to contact a professional plumbing service urgently. Untreated blockages can cause further harm to your plumbing overtime.