Any of the following signs could indicate trouble with your drains:
- Frequent backups
- Water draining slowly or not at all
- Smell of mold or mildew coming from drain
- Dripping or trickling sounds
When you suspect a drain issue, call your plumber right away for an inspection. Camera inspections can quickly locate and diagnose drain problems, letting your plumber know what needs to be done to complete the drain repair. In some cases, a drain snake or hydrojet may be all that is needed. However, more severe damage may necessitate full drain replacement. This can often be the case when a blockage is caused by an item that has cracked or broken the pipe, rather than just general pipe buildup.
Your plumber can let you know whether drain repair or drain replacement is your best option. They should also provide you with a cost estimate before getting to work so you can approve the charges. This will ensure there are no surprises when the bill arrives. Drain repair generally doesn’t take too long, so things should be flowing smoothly again by the end of the day. For drain replacement, the timeline will depend on how difficult it is for your plumber to access the pipe in question. Obviously, more complex jobs will take longer than simple ones.