Can a clogged drain cause a water leak?

 The answer is yes: when clogs or blockages occur in drainage pipes, water rises up inside behind the obstruction and can cause the pipe to rupture or leak slowly through gaskets and joints.

Drainage systems are NOT designed to contain water, but to make it flow. A properly sized drain allows a ratio of water to air in the pipe to drain freely. When a drain is clogged, it alters the size of the pipe, reducing its diameter and thus affecting the flow of water through it.

Leak detection

Water leaks are not always associated with burst water pipes under pressure. Broken or burst water pipes are more likely to show signs of a leak more quickly and be more obvious than a leak caused by a clogged drain, due to the pressure and volume of water in the pipe and the flooding that follows.

When water is retained in the pipe, it can eventually leak through rubber seals, threaded pipe joints, drainage channels and shower or bath tub outlets. Clogging means that the drain pipe is clogged and prevents water from flowing past the obstruction; over time, water builds up behind the obstruction until it finds a point of exit.

A slow leak that goes unrecognised or is allowed to leak can, over time, cause structural damage to your home. Typical areas where a clogged drain can cause a water leak, are drain pipes connected to sinks, bathtubs and showers.

Water damage caused by a clogged drain

Here are some examples of how a clogged drain can cause water damage in a house:

Drain pipes are not designed to hold water under pressure; all joints are designed to allow water to flow through the joint and out of the system.

Drain pipes from sinks, basins, tubs and showers often pass through wooden structures contained in the walls, floors and ceilings of the house. When leaks go unnoticed for long periods of time, considerable and costly structural damage can occur.

When blockages occur, water rises up inside the drain pipe, putting it under pressure. The continuous presence of standing water in the pipe can cause leaks through glued joints, caulking, gaskets and threaded joints.

A clogged drain means that water is contained in the pipe for an extended period of time. This encourages corrosion to occur in metal pipes, resulting in leaks. 

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