Maintaining the smooth flow of daily life in South Jordan, Utah starts with functional plumbing. A sudden clog or slow drain can halt productivity for businesses and create stress for homeowners. At Let's Fix Plumbing, we provide expert drain cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties across South Jordan, UT, 84095, committed to swiftly resolving your drain issues and restoring peace of mind.
For dependable and professional drain cleaning in South Jordan, Utah, 84095, look no further than Let's Fix Plumbing. Give us a call or complete our online contact form to get started. Our primary goal is your complete satisfaction and ensuring your plumbing works perfectly
Signs Your Drain Is Clogged
A complete drain backup is a messy, stressful event that rarely happens out of the blue. Your home’s plumbing system almost always provides an "early warning system" by sending out clues that a blockage is forming. By learning to recognize these signs, you can address the issue proactively and call for professional help before a minor nuisance becomes a major emergency.
The Obvious Red Flags: Sights and Sounds
These are the most common and easily identifiable symptoms that point to a developing clog. If you notice any of these, it’s time to pay attention.
- Slow-Moving Water: This is the number one preliminary sign. Does your shower floor turn into a shallow pond long before you’re done? Does your bathroom sink fill up while you’re just washing your hands or brushing your teeth? Water that takes more than a few seconds to drain is a clear sign that an obstruction is narrowing the pipe.
- Gurgling and Bubbling Noises: After the water drains, listen closely. Strange gurgling sounds coming from the drain are a classic sign of a problem. This noise is caused by air trapped in the pipes being forced to bubble through the partial clog as it struggles to vent properly.
- Water Backups: This is a more advanced symptom. If water appears in a sink or tub when it isn't in use, it means a clog in a shared drain line is forcing the water to go somewhere else. A common example is water from a running washing machine backing up into a nearby shower, or water from one side of a kitchen sink bubbling up in the other.
The Deeper Clues: Odors and Recurring Problems
Some signs of a clog are less about what you see and more about what you smell or how often you experience issues.
- Persistent Foul Odors: A stubborn, unpleasant smell emanating from a drain opening that doesn’t go away with surface cleaning is a strong indicator of a problem. This odor is caused by decaying food, grease, and other organic matter that has become trapped in the pipe and is festering within the clog.
- Multiple Fixtures are Clogged: If you notice that your toilet is flushing poorly, your shower is draining slowly, and your bathroom sink is gurgling all at the same time, you likely have a blockage in your main sewer line. This is a serious issue that requires immediate professional attention to prevent a raw sewage backup into your home.
If you recognize any of these warning signs in your Utah home, don’t wait for the problem to escalate. Contact Let's Fix Plumbing for a professional inspection and cleaning.
Is Your Basement Protected? The Critical Role of Your Floor Drain and How to Maintain It
Imagine coming home to find your water heater has leaked, or a sudden Utah downpour has overwhelmed your window wells. In these moments, the difference between a minor cleanup and a catastrophic, wallet-draining flood often comes down to one small, overlooked feature: your basement floor drain. This silent guardian is your home's last line of defense against water damage, but only if it's working properly.
At Let's Fix Plumbing, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when a floor drain fails. Taking a few moments to understand its role and perform simple maintenance can protect your property and give you invaluable peace of mind.
What Your Floor Drain Does (And Why It’s So Important)
Unlike other drains that are used daily, the floor drain is designed for emergencies. Its job is to provide a safe exit point for any unexpected water that collects on your basement or garage floor. A functioning floor drain can swiftly carry away water from a:
- Leaking or burst water heater
- Washing machine overflow
- Burst pipe
- Heavy rain or rapid snowmelt seeping into the foundation
Without a clear and working floor drain, this water has nowhere to go. It will pool, seep into drywall, warp flooring, ruin stored belongings, and create the perfect conditions for destructive mold growth.
Common Floor Drain Problems and How to Spot Them
Because it's used so infrequently, floor drain problems often go unnoticed until it's too late. Here's what to look out for:
- Clogs from Debris: Over the years, dust, dirt, cobwebs, pet hair, and other debris can accumulate inside the drain and create a solid blockage. You won't know it's clogged until you need it most.
- Dried-Out P-Trap: Every drain has a U-shaped pipe (a P-trap) that holds a small amount of water to block sewer gas from entering your home. Since floor drains aren't used often, this water can evaporate, allowing foul, unpleasant odors to seep into your basement. This is the most common floor drain issue.
- Main Sewer Line Backups: This is the most critical sign. If you see water or sewage coming up through your floor drain, it means your main sewer line is blocked. Stop using all water in the house immediately and call for emergency plumbing service.
Simple Maintenance for Total Protection
A few simple steps can ensure your floor drain is ready to protect your home:
- Keep it Clear: Ensure the drain grate is not covered by storage boxes, rugs, or other items.
- Test it Periodically: Once every few months, pour a large bucket of water down the drain to make sure it flows away quickly and isn't clogged.
- Keep the Trap Full: Once a month, pour a gallon of water into the drain to replenish the P-trap and keep sewer gases out. For extra-long protection, add a tablespoon of mineral oil, which will float on top and slow evaporation.
If your floor drain is clogged, backing up, or emitting foul odors, don't wait. Call the experts at Let's Fix Plumbing. We’ll ensure your home's most important safety feature is ready for anything.
Why Choose Let's Fix Plumbing
- Locally Owned & Operated
- 24/7 Emergency Services
- Licensed & Uniformed Technicians
- 5-Star Google and Yelp Reviews
- Upfront Estimates
- Easy Online Appointments
The "Do Not Flush" List: 10 Items That Will Wreck Your Plumbing
Your toilet is an amazing piece of engineering, but it’s designed for a very specific purpose: to dispose of human waste and toilet paper. All too often, it’s treated like a magic trash can that can make anything disappear. Unfortunately, flushing the wrong items can lead to stubborn clogs, messy backups, and expensive emergency calls to your plumber.
To protect your Utah home’s plumbing system, our team at Let's Fix Plumbing has compiled the ultimate "Do Not Flush" list. Avoiding these items will save you from future headaches and costly repairs.
Common Culprits That Cause Clogs
These items are the most frequent causes of residential drain clogs. They do not break down in water and are guaranteed to cause a problem sooner or later.
- "Flushable" Wipes: This is the #1 offender. Despite the name, these wipes do not disintegrate like toilet paper. They are stronger, more durable, and are the primary cause of massive clogs in home pipes and city sewer systems alike.
- Paper Towels & Tissues: Unlike toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissues are designed to be strong and absorbent. They don't break down easily when wet and can create a thick, paper-mâché-like blockage in your drain.
- Feminine Hygiene Products: Tampons, pads, and applicators are designed to absorb liquid and expand. When flushed, they do exactly that inside your pipes, creating a near-instant and very stubborn clog.
- Cotton Balls, Rounds & Swabs: These products are made of cotton, which does not dissolve. Instead, they clump together in the pipes, snagging other debris and forming a dense blockage over time.
- Dental Floss: It might seem small and harmless, but dental floss is like a net. It wraps around other items in the drain, creating a strong, fibrous ball that can be incredibly difficult to remove.
Hazardous Materials & Non-Degradable Items
This group includes items that are either hazardous to the environment or simply will not break down, leading to serious blockages.
- Diapers: This should be obvious, but it happens. Diapers are made with super-absorbent materials that swell to many times their original size, causing an immediate and catastrophic blockage.
- Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.): While more common in kitchen sinks, some people pour cooking grease down the toilet. Just like in a kitchen drain, the grease cools, solidifies, and coats the inside of your pipes, catching everything else that comes down.
- Cat Litter: Clumping cat litter is designed to turn into a hard, solid mass when it gets wet. Flushing it is like pouring wet cement directly into your plumbing system.
- Medication: While pills won't clog your pipes, they create a different hazard. Flushing old medications contaminates groundwater and our Utah water supply, as treatment plants are not equipped to filter them out.
- Hair: Hair shed during a bath or shower should never be flushed. Like dental floss, it creates a net that catches other debris and is a leading cause of slow drains and clogs.
If a mistake has already been made and you're facing a stubborn clog, don't worry. The team at Let's Fix Plumbing has the professional tools to clear your lines safely and effectively. Call us today!
Contact Let's Fix Plumbing Today!
Let's Fix Plumbing is a fully licensed and insured plumbing business servicing the South Jordan area. We offer a broad range of drain cleaning services in Utah. Give us a call today at (801) 346-9896 to schedule service.