5 Causes of Stagnant Water at Home Plus Top Tips to Prevent It

Have you noticed puddles in your backyard or slow-draining water in your bathroom recently? If the water isn’t going away after hours or even days later, then chances are you may have some issues that result in an overflow or improper drainage—which then causes stagnant water or standing water.

This situation poses multiple hazards. For one, stagnant water can be a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria and insects. Likewise, the water can compromise the structural integrity of your home as it causes too much moisture to seep into your foundation. It may even result in mould that can ruin your walls and flooring. In such cases, your best course of action is to call for professional Dunedin plumbing services to fix the problem before it gets worse.

But what exactly causes stagnant water, and what can you do as a precaution against it? Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

1. Heavy Rainfall

The most common cause of stagnant water, particularly outdoors, is accumulated water after a heavy downpour. You’ve probably seen puddles on the road or in your garden after it rains; for the most part, this should be normal. What makes it a problem is if the water remains for days even after the rain has stopped. The stagnant water could then attract mosquitoes to stay on your property, putting you and your family at risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

As a precautionary measure, check your drains to see that they’re well-equipped to move water away from your property during heavy rains. You may also consider renovating your yard to better facilitate the movement of water, such as adding flood-tolerant plants or regrading your garden.

2. Sewage Backup

A sewage backup is a plumbing issue wherein wastewater isn’t removed efficiently or completely, thus causing it to travel back up your drain, toilet, or sink. As a result, you may find dirty standing water either on your bathroom floor or in your sink. Sewage backup causes plenty of issues in your home, including persistent foul odours and various health hazards in case your clean water supply gets contaminated. 

If you’re seeing standing water caused by sewage backup, contact emergency plumbing services immediately to get it fixed. This lets you solve two problems in one service call while also preventing the problem from becoming much more expensive to deal with later on.

3. Clogged Pipes

Stagnant water can also happen at parts of your home where you aren’t immediately visible, such as inside your pipes. This may be caused by clogged pipes, which prevent water from flowing freely. When this happens, the water just gets stuck inside the pipe and impedes your entire drainage system.

If your drains aren’t working as efficiently and you suspect there to be standing water in your pipes, ask your local plumber to have it inspected for blockages. Another possibility is that your plumbing pipes are poorly installed, hence why clogging frequently occurs. In such cases, you may also require the assistance of certified drainlayers to make sure water won’t accumulate in your pipes anymore.

4. Damaged or Deformed Pipes

When pipes burst or get deformed—perhaps caused by a tree root pushing against it or due to old age—water inevitably leaks out, thus causing stagnant water in the area where the damaged pipe is located. A quick inspection near the stagnant water could point you to the damaged pipe, though this isn’t always the case. For instance, pools of water may form in your yard caused by a broken pipe beneath the soil. To get a better idea of where exactly the leak is coming from, you’ll have to hire a professional plumber to conduct a thorough check.

To prevent stagnant water caused by damaged pipes, make sure you get routine inspections for your plumbing system. Even if there’s seemingly nothing wrong, inspections can alert you about small damages that could be fixed early on to avoid bigger problems down the line.

5. Inadequate Drainage System

Finally, stagnant water could also just be caused by inadequate drainage systems in your yard or home. If water doesn’t have anywhere to go, it ends up accumulating over time. Consider consulting with a professional to see what kind of drainage system can be installed on your property to facilitate better movement of water and prevent it from pooling in your premises.

Get Stagnant Water Fixed Right Away

Stagnant water may seem harmless at first glance, but letting it linger on your property can eventually cause more problems and safety risks. If you’re experiencing standing water issues, then don’t hesitate to call Mains Plumbers. Our decades of experience in residential and light commercial plumbing allow us to quickly pinpoint the source of the problem and get it fixed as soon as possible. Let our expert plumbers get rid of those unsightly stagnant water puddles and keep your home safe and clean by giving us a call today.