3 Common Drain Emergencies, And How To Handle Them

There are numerous ways in which your plumbing system makes life easier and more convenient, and it’s easy to take the fact that you have running water in your kitchen or bathroom for granted until you have an emergency. Without running water in the house, you will learn to appreciate the luxury of having a drainage system working properly. Here is a list of some common drain problems and how to handle them.

  1. Clogged drains

Clogged drains are the most common drainage problem that you will encounter, and there are a number of reasons why your drains might be clogged. Some common household causes of clogged drains include: Hair build-up in the drain; washing food waste down the drain; mineral build-up; small objects that might’ve got caught in there; and toilet paper build up. Even though the causes of clogged drains are many, they are generally due to improper use and infrequent drain inspection.

So, what do you do when your drains are clogged? The easiest and fastest way to unclog a drain is using a plunger, although it can be ineffective for bigger problems and can leave quite a mess. Keep towels close by to clean up the mess, and if you’ve poured drain cleaners in the sink do not use a plunger since the cleaner could splash on your skin causing irritation. Of course, if the job is outside of your comfort range, or seems too urgent, ask around for the best plumber Toronto has to offer and call them up – they’ll know how to help.

  1. Leaks

Leaking drains are the second most common drain problems. If you are dealing with a small leak, the first thing to do is find the source, and if it’s the drainpipe under the sink that’s leaking, you need to simply tighten the nut. You can also make use of plumber’s tape and plumber’s putty to make the repair, however, if you cannot find the leak, it is better to call a professional plumber to avoid making it worse.

  1. Foul Odour

Having foul odour in your house is not only unpleasant but it can also be embarrassing when you have guests over, and potentially dangerous. The odour from the pipes could be caused by a dry p-trap – the trap responsible for capturing water, which acts as a plug against sewer gasses. If the sink has not been used a lot, it could have a dry p-trap causing the sewer gasses to come up the pipe. The remedy for a dry p-trap is easy: you just have to pour water down the drain so as to restore the water plug. Odour can also be a sign of a bigger problem in the sewer lines – it might be a sign that the sewer line is blocked or it is broken, and if this is the case you need to find a 24/7 plumber in Toronto to help fix the problem.


Those are the most common drain problems that homeowners in Toronto will face, and, as you can see, they’re not too difficult to mitigate. Remember that if you cannot handle a problem, avoid making it worse by calling a professional plumber in Toronto.

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