If your home has more than one sink or drain (more commonly referred to as a “sewer” or “drain”), then at some point one or more of them might become clogged. This could be anything from a hair clog from a pet (especially problematic for indoor pet-only households), food scraps left un-wiped out, or something else. When that happens, it’s important to know which one is the culprit so you can attend to that one in particular. Otherwise, the problem will compound and affect all of the drains in your home – usually at a time when you least need it. Luckily, there are a few signs that will help you identify which sink or main drain is the culprit so you can address that problem quickly. Once you know which one is affected, you can then tackle the issue at hand and prevent further problems in the future. Let’s take a look at some signs that will help you determine if your main drain is clogged so you can address it as soon as possible.

Check for water standing in the main drain

If you’ve noticed water standing at the end of your main drain or in the trap of your sink, then this is a sign that your drains may be clogged and could cause a backup. This is typically caused by a build-up of hair and food debris, so you’ll want to clean out the trap and the main drain as soon as possible to avoid a mess or other issues with your home’s plumbing system. This will help prevent your drains from becoming completely clogged and causing a more serious issue.

Listen for water in the house coming from the main drains

If you hear water coming from your main drains or sinks when it clearly shouldn’t (like at a time of the day when it’s raining outside), then this is typically a sign that your drains are clogged. The water could be coming from a hair clog in one of the drains or it could be coming from a water main that’s broken, so it’s important to address this issue as soon as possible. This can be done by using a cleaning solution to unclog the drains or by calling a plumber to remove and repair the faulty part of your water main.

Watch for a foul smell coming from the drains

If you notice a nasty smell coming from the drains, then this is another sign that they may be clogged and could cause a backup. The smell could be coming from a build-up of food debris, a sewer smell coming from the toilet or something else, so you’ll want to clear out the drains as soon as possible. This can be done by using a cleaning solution to unclog the drains or by calling a plumber to repair the faulty part of your drains.

Watch for water spurting out of the drains

If you see water spurting out of the drains or a trickle coming out that seems to stop and start, then this is another sign that your drains may be clogged. The water could be spilling out of a broken pipe, or it could be coming from a build-up of hair and food debris, so you’ll want to clear out the drains as soon as possible. This can be done by using a cleaning solution to unclog the drains or by calling a plumber to repair the faulty part of your drains.

Watch for a black or brown colour coming from the drains

This is typically a sign that something is decomposing in your drains and could cause a backup if left unchecked. The food debris could be coming from a backed-up sink, a backed-up toilet, or something else, so you’ll want to clear out the drains as soon as possible. This can be done by using a cleaning solution to unclog the drains or by calling a plumber to repair the faulty part of your drains.