What Are The Health Risks Of Blocked Drains?
A blocked drain may have a significant impact on your health in addition to being an annoyance. Unattended clogged or slowly draining pipes can result in a variety of health problems, including the emission of toxic fumes, the creation of a haven for germs, and even skin diseases. Let's look more closely at some of the primary dangers to better understand how blocked drains might impact your health. Water can begin to stagnate when drains get plugged. Mould, bacteria, and other dangerous contaminants thrive in stagnant water, which serves as their ideal habitat. This alone raises the likelihood that you'll get sick. The chance of an unpleasant infestation increases the longer the drain is clogged. This may involve the transmission of E. coli, salmonella, and Legionella, which can all result in food poisoning, diarrhoea, and other disorders connected to the stomach.
Releases Harmful Gases
Blocked drains can produce dangerous gases including methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide in addition to germs. These gases can irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in addition to causing corrosion in pipes. High concentrations of these harmful substances can also result in headaches, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation. In severe circumstances, they can even result in death. You can become ill from sewer gas. It is crucial to take any strange odours coming from your sewage carefully because of this. Because certain sewage gases are odourless or impair your sense of smell, you should also be able to recognise probable signs of sewer gas exposure.
Sewer gas can definitely be deadly if it's left untreated for too long. Sewers have a lot going on, including various microorganisms that produce gases including ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulphide, and carbon dioxide. You probably know ammonia best as a component of glass cleaner solutions; while it is generally safe to use while cleaning, exposure to it can be uncomfortable, poisonous, or even fatal. Additionally risky is mixing it with bleach. Due to its flammability, methane can pose a fire risk in your house when generated in significant amounts.
Need assistance finding drainage clearance near you?
Get a QuoteBreeding Ground For Bacteria
The ideal breeding place for bacteria and other germs is provided by blocked sewers. All types of pests, from flies and wasps to rats and other rodents, might be drawn in by the damp circumstances. This poses additional health problems on its own since these animals may harbour a variety of parasite infections that, if the obstruction is not properly treated, can swiftly spread. Through splashback, the germs in plugholes can be forced out and into your vicinity; obstructions cause the bacteria to reappear.
Blocked drains can result from the accumulation of oil, food waste, hair, soap scum, and other material, which can cause water to overflow or even back up into your home. Household drains are brimming with harmful bacteria and germs that may enter our homes when pipes start to collapse. This is especially risky if your toilet pipes are clogged since the sewage water overflow spreads bacteria and germs throughout your house. When it rains severely, drains that are clogged with leaves and other debris are also more likely to flood because there is nowhere for the rainfall to drain. The foundations of your property may be affected by the substantial damage and extensive damage caused by the backup of sewage water to the interior and outside of the house.
Allergies And Skin Infections
The germs and allergens that are produced by clogged drains may be entering your house if they are located close to where you live. For people with allergies or asthma, this might be a major issue because breathing in these toxins can cause attacks of sneezing, wheezing, and coughing. It pays to take immediate action if you see any indicators of a clogged drain since in the worst-case situations, these allergic reactions can result in skin infections and other respiratory issues. Clogged drains that are infected with bacteria, mould, tainted water, and disease-carrying insects pose a serious hazard to the health of you and your family.
Bacterial illnesses like typhoid and Campylobacteriosis are among the health issues associated with these water issues. Fever and diarrhoea are typical signs of both of these bacterial illnesses. A respiratory condition known as Legionnaires' disease is brought on by bacteria in the water. In addition, peptic ulcers in the lining of the stomach and small intestine can result from drinking water infected with the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium. In certain cases, blocked drains have resulted in the formation of mould and mildew. Mould spores in the air might affect the neurological system and create respiratory difficulties. A blocked or dirty drain can make asthma or allergy symptoms worse for individuals who have them.
Food Contamination
Food contamination is a possibility if the clogged drain is in the kitchen. When water gets stuck in pipes, germs and other pests may quickly pollute the water. This water may easily contaminate food and cause serious illnesses if it is allowed to leak back into the kitchen. As a result, it's crucial to frequently inspect all of your home's drains, including those in the sinks, bathrooms, and showers. If you think there could be a blockage, call a drainage service right away so they can look at it. You can avert future health problems that are more serious by adopting these easy safeguards. If left ignored, blocked drains not only cause discomfort but potentially major health problems.
Since the waste and water run back into the washbasin whenever a drain is clogged, blocked drains promote the growth of germs that cause illnesses. You run the risk of contracting illnesses and viruses if garbage and water flow back into your washbasin. This polluted water can lead to food poisoning as well as skin inflammation and irritation if you come into touch with it. You should clean your drains to preserve your health and the health of your family. Food contamination from a drain backlog in your kitchen puts you at risk for problems like E. coli, norovirus, and hepatitis A.
In this article:
