If you suspect your drain pipes have collapsed, don’t ignore your instinct. Maybe there’s a funny smell from the drain or the toilet gurgles when you run the washing machine.
Signs of Collapsed Drains
When your plumbing makes itself known, trouble is brewing. So here are 11 telltale signs of collapsed drains to watch out for.
- The Walls or Floors Feel Damp
A leaking pipe dumps wastewater into the floor or wall around it. The water seeps through over time, creating dampness on these surfaces.
- The Lawn Is Damp or Soaked
Similarly, a collapsed drain can dump water into the ground. This appears as wet patches or puddles on your lawn.
- Waste Water Backs Up into Your Home
If you flush the toilet and wastewater flows back up to the surface, you have a collapsed drain. You can also find backed-up wastewater in the sinks or floor drains in the lower levels of your home.
- You See Mould On the Walls
Mould is a good indicator of increased humidity, which can indirectly point to leaking or broken plumbing.
- Your Yard Sinks in Some Places
Too much wastewater in collapsed drains underground can leak into the soil and weaken it, causing indentations in the lawn or pavement. This may indicate that the broken drain is directly underneath the indentation.
- Your Sinks Drain Too Slowly
And not just sinks, but the shower drains and toilet, too. The plumbing could block if the water takes too long to go down the drain. Call a licensed plumber if you can’t unblock the drain using a plunger.
- There’s A Foul Smell
If you can smell raw sewage anywhere on your property, such as in the drains or lawn, there’s definitely a damaged drain. This bad odour often accompanies other signs like backed-up drains, mould, or dampness.
- The Grass Grows Faster
The area above a leaking or broken drain gets extra water and nutrients from sewage. It makes the grass on it look lush and grow taller than other sections of the lawn. This sign is an early indicator before the lawn gets soaked or sinks.
- Rats Appear in Your Home
Rodents can easily squeeze through if your drain pipes have a gap as small as ¾ of an inch.
- Insects Move In, Too
You may start noticing many more cockroaches, fruit flies, and sewer flies in your home. These creatures love a dark, damp pipe, especially if it’s clogged up and leaking. A collapsed drain may be the culprit if you have a persistent pest problem.
- Your Foundations Crack
In extreme cases, a damaged and neglected rain leaks so much wastewater that it weakens the concrete slabs around it, sometimes creating a sinkhole. At this point, a licensed plumber can repair this damage, but it’s a time-consuming and costly project.
Next Steps
Once you notice these signs, you should bring in an expert. A qualified plumber can help locate and repair your collapsed drains to prevent further damage to your home. Remember: the earlier you catch a leaking drain, the easier it is to save your property.