Symptoms And Causes Of A Blocked Drain
- Ashley Kinsela
- Apr 3, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Sanitation is one of the most important household habits that one must practice on a regular basis. Without proper sanitation and hygiene, your house can become a breeding ground for all types of diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene and sewer drain help us do that. A sewer drain is a long pipe which transports all the waste products to the treatment center where they are released into local rivers or streams. A sewer drain plays an important role in keeping the household healthy and free from diseases. A blocked drain is a serious problem which can significantly endanger the health of the people living nearby.
Sewers drain consists of pipes which are connected to every plumbing fixture, including sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets as well as washing machines which drain the wastewater to the main sewer drain. The main sewer drain is connected to the city sewer which takes the wastewater for treatment. A block sewer drain is an obstruction inside the pipe which does not let the waste pass through. When the wastewater has nowhere else to go, it starts to come up from the opening of the sinks, toilets or tubs.
How Can You Find Out The Problem?
The Main Symptoms Of A Blocked Drain Can Be:
Multiple backed-up drains – The main plumbing fixtures that can be clogged are toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers. If more than one drain is slow or gurgling or smelling bad or has water backing up, it means that there is a blockage in the main sewer.
Water not draining or backing up – If you see that when you try to flush the toilet and the water backs up from the bathtub or sink, it means that there is a clog. Same for the sink, if you run the sink and see the water in the toilet rising, it means you have a serious problem.
Sewage in floor drain – When there is a blockage in the sewer pipe, the wastewater has no place to escape and thus sewage starts to force its way out of the floor drain. If you notice any sewage or foul smell through the floor drain, then there is probably a clog somewhere.
What Can Be The Reason?

There can be many reasons which can cause a blocked sewer to drain. Using an excessive amount of thick toilet paper and flushing it can cause a drain blockage. Likewise, flushing down debris and using the toilet as a dustbin can lead to blockage. When grease is poured down the drain it can solidify and clog the sewer. Tree roots and damage to the sewer due to soil shifting can cause blockage in the draining system.
Now, What To Do?
Once it is confirmed that there is a blockage in the sewer, one must stop all the water draining as it will only result in more blockage and backing up. One needs to check all the fixtures and find out where the blockage is. The best way to get rid of a blocked drain is to seek help of a professional and the matter can be solved within a few hours.
A blocked drain is like a headache that you would not want to have. Along with serious health issues, it brings a morbid smell around the house which is highly unpleasant to experience. Therefore, when you notice such a problem, you must immediately get in touch with a professional and get the blockage problem solved in no time.






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