Most homeowners don't think about their drains until something goes seriously wrong — water backing up into a shower, a kitchen sink that won't drain, or worse, raw sewage overflowing. But your plumbing usually gives plenty of warning before things reach that point. The key is knowing what to watch (and smell, and listen) for.
At Absolute Drain Service, we've been clearing drains in Reno and Northern Nevada for over 20 years. Here are the five most common warning signs we hear from homeowners — and what they mean for your pipes.
Sign #1: Slow Draining — In One or Multiple Drains
A sink that drains slowly is the most obvious sign, and the one most people ignore for too long. If a single drain is running slow, you likely have a localized blockage — a buildup of hair, soap scum, grease, or debris close to the drain opening.
But if multiple drains throughout your home are running slow at the same time — bathroom sinks, the kitchen sink, the shower — that's a different story. Multiple slow drains almost always point to a blockage in the main sewer line, which is a more serious issue that requires professional attention right away.
Quick tip: Try running your kitchen sink while watching the bathroom drain. If water backs up in the tub or gurgling occurs, your main line may be partially blocked. Call us immediately.
Sign #2: Gurgling Sounds from Drains or Toilets
When water drains normally, it flows smoothly and silently. Gurgling sounds — that characteristic "glub-glub" noise — occur when air is being trapped and then released through a partial blockage or a venting problem.
If you hear gurgling from your toilet when you run the sink, or bubbling in your shower drain after flushing, there's a good chance you have a partial obstruction in your drain line or a problem with your sewer vent stack. Left alone, partial blockages become complete blockages.
Sign #3: Persistent Sewage Smells
A healthy drain system should be essentially odor-free. If you're noticing a persistent sewage smell — especially near floor drains, bathroom drains, or in your basement — something is wrong. Common causes include:
- Dry P-traps: The curved section of pipe under every drain holds water that blocks sewer gases. If a drain isn't used regularly, the water can evaporate. Simply running the drain should fix this.
- Blocked or damaged vent pipes: Sewer gases that can't escape through the vent stack may back up through your drains.
- Cracked sewer lines: If sewage smells are pervasive throughout the house or emanating from your yard, you may have a cracked or broken sewer line that needs immediate inspection.
- Buildup in drain lines: Organic material decomposing inside your pipes produces hydrogen sulfide gas — the characteristic "rotten egg" smell.
Never ignore sewage smells. Hydrogen sulfide gas is toxic in high concentrations, and persistent odors can indicate a serious sewer line failure.
Sign #4: Water Backing Up in Unexpected Places
One of the clearest signs of a main sewer line problem is water appearing where it shouldn't when you use plumbing fixtures. Classic examples:
- Flushing the toilet causes water to back up in the bathtub
- Running the dishwasher causes the kitchen sink to overflow
- Water appears in floor drains when you run the washing machine
When wastewater can't flow down and out through a blocked main line, it looks for the nearest exit — which is usually the lowest fixture in your home. This is a sign of a significant blockage and needs professional service immediately.
Sign #5: Frequently Recurring Clogs
If you find yourself reaching for the plunger every couple of weeks in the same drain, the underlying problem has never actually been solved. Repeated clogs in the same location suggest a partial obstruction, a pipe that has narrowed due to buildup, a damaged pipe section, or root intrusion.
Recurring clogs are rarely solved by plunging alone. A camera inspection will show you exactly what's causing the repeated blockage, and appropriate treatment — hydro flushing, Root X treatment, or pipe repair — will solve it for good.
Our 30-day guarantee: Every drain cleaning service from Absolute Drain Service comes with a 30-day guarantee. If the same drain clogs again within 30 days, we come back at no charge.
When to Call Absolute Drain Service
Any one of these five signs is worth a phone call — especially if you're seeing more than one at the same time. Early intervention is almost always less expensive than waiting for a complete failure.
We serve Reno, Sparks, and all of Northern Nevada. We're available 24/7 for emergencies and typically arrive within 1–2 hours. Don't wait until it's a crisis — give us a call at (775) 322-2727.