Buried outside, residential drain pipes seldom get the special attention they deserve. Yet, homeowners rely on these pipes to direct the wastewater and sewage from their homes into a municipal sewer system or septic system.

While regular maintenance of drains helps to keep them working smoothly and efficiently, there are several reasons you may encounter problems with your residential drains and end up requiring drain repair service. 

Here are some common culprits behind drain repair.

Neglecting Drain Maintenance

Are you guilty of neglecting maintenance on your drains? Ignoring routine drain cleaning for too long can result in slow drains, which can easily turn into a full-blown situation. If you notice the signs of clogging issues with your drains, there are a variety of drain clearing techniques you can employ to fix the issue. These include:

• Drain cleaning with basic tools such as snakes and augers 
• Drain cleaner chemicals
• Hydro-jetting
• Power rodding
• Air-burst drain cleaning

Each technique has its own pros and cons, which should be carefully considered when choosing the most effective way to unblock your drains.

Deteriorated Drain Pipes

Residential drains have a limited lifespan, depending on the material used to make them. As the years go by, they may degrade from draining all of the nasty things that go through them. If your drains are failing due to general wear and tear, you'll need to get them replaced. This can result in expensive drain repairs, depending on the size, length, and location of the pipes to be replaced.

Accidental Damage to Drains

Residential drains can also get damaged by accident. For example, operating a heavy truck or construction equipment over the top of your drain pipes could place pressure on the pipes, resulting in accidental breakage.

Tree Root Intrusion

If you have large trees growing close to your residential drains, their roots can invade your drain pipes as they forage for water. This can cause a blockage in your drains. The most effective way to locate damage by tree roots is to carry out a video inspection of your drains.

Overloaded Drains

Your residential drain is designed to handle a certain load. If this load is exceeded, you could end up experiencing backups in your home. If your household size has grown, you may need to upsize your drain piping to match the increased load.

If you have seen the obvious signs of drain problems or suspect having problems, contact a drain repair service near you for assistance.