Knowing the most common causes of water drain leaks helps you act fast in case you find yourself dealing with unexpected issues. Below, our team at Leak Chasers put together a list of what to keep an eye out for so you can prevent water damage and address issues before they get significantly worse.
1. Drain Clogs
The gunk that builds up in your sink or shower drain—hair, soap, food bits, sludge—sticks to your pipes, slowly narrowing down the path for water until your drain backs up and starts leaking.
These clogs can happen in:
- Kitchen sink drains: Grease is the worst offender. Even if you rinse it with hot water, it cools and solidifies inside your pipes, trapping food bits like a sticky net.
- Bathroom sink drains and floor drains: Hair wraps around soap residue, creating a slow-draining mess that eventually puts pressure on pipe joints.
- Toilets: Flushing anything besides toilet paper (yes, that includes “flushable” wipes) can clog the line, forcing the water to escape through the wax ring at the base.
Related Article: Can a Clogged Drain Cause a Leak?
Solutions
For minor clogs, you can use a plunger or a $5 drain snake from the hardware store. We recommend skipping the chemical drain cleaners; even though they clear the clog, they also eat away at your pipes over time.
To prevent leaks due to clogs, you can also get a cheap drain screen for your shower and sink. It’ll catch hair and food scraps before they become a problem.
2. Old, Faulty Drain Pipes
Properties built before the ’70s usually use galvanized steel pipes. Unfortunately, this material does not age well for plumbing systems. They rust from the inside out, slowly sinking the pipe’s diameter until water can barely squeeze through.
Its age can also suggest broken seals, corroded pipes, and damaged pipe joints that eventually become leaks.
Solutions
If it’s just one spot, a plumber can replace a short section without tearing up too much of your home. However, if the leaks are everywhere, you’re looking at a full repiping. It’s a huge project, but it beats patching leaks every few months. We do this all the time at Leak Chasers—replacing rusty pipes with copper or PEX that’ll last decades.
3. Loose Connections
One of the most common causes of leaking drains and sewer systems is loose connections between the pipes. This generally happens because rubber washers dry out and crack especially under the kitchen sink when it’s hot and humid. It could also happen because someone overtightened a nut and cracked the plastic. Or, it could just be the pipes shifting over time from house settling or temperature changes.
Solutions
To fix loose connections, tighten the slip nut gently. If you’re having trouble with the sink washer, it’s better to completely replace it (they’re affordable). Then, you should also check the pipe alignment. If it’s crooked, water will find a way out.
Now, if you’ve tightened everything and there are still water drain leaks, the pipe itself might be cracked. In this case, we recommend contacting a professional plumber to do the job.
4. Tree Roots
In Oklahoma, soil can get as tough as concrete when it’s dry. But tree roots can still punch through it and affect your piping, potentially leading to problems like leaks, water damage, and even foundation issues and structural damage.
You know you have a tree-root problem if you find sinkholes or soggy patches appearing in your yard, or if every drain in the house slows down at once.
Solutions
Small roots can sometimes be cleared with a hydro jet or auger. On the other hand, bigger invasions mean fully replacing the damaged section of the pipe.
5. Oklahoma Soil
Oklahoma soil isn’t friendly to underground pipes. When it’s dry, the soil underneath your home shrinks and pulls away from the pipes. When it rains, the soil swells and pushes against them. Years later that back-and-forth can crack even sturdy pipes and cause misalignments or even significant water damage.
Some signs of soil-related leaks:
- Cracks in your foundation (often near plumbing lines)
- Unexplained damp spots on floors or walls
Solutions
Regular inspections can help you catch shifts and cracks before they cause problems. Another potential solution is to consider using flexible pipe materials that can bend without breaking as the ground moves.
6. Winter Weather or Low Temperatures
If your pipes aren’t ready for the sudden temperature drop, they’ll freeze and then burst when they thaw. The pipes that are most vulnerable to the winter cold are pipes in unheated crawl spaces or attics, and exposed pipes along exterior walls.
Solutions
Pour warm water (not boiling water) down the affected drain if you can. To keep your pipes from refreezing, you can insulate them with foam sleeves. If you’re dealing with burst drain pipes, you can use plumber’s epoxy or rubber patches with hose clamps as a temporary solution—at least until you arrange a service with a professional.
7. Bad Plumbing Jobs
Maybe the previous owner of your property decided they were a DIY plumber. Or maybe a “professional” cut corners and now you’re left to deal with the consequences. Either way, improper installations lead to leaks, mold growth, and water damage. Sometimes this happens right away, sometimes it happens years later.
Some of the common mistakes we see in installation are using the wrong glue on PVC joints, mixing pipe types (like connecting copper to galvanized steel without a dielectric union, which makes it prone to corrosion), and not securing pipes properly.
Solutions
You’ll need to work with a real professional plumber like our crew at Leak Chasers. Sorry, but YouTube tutorials only get you so far.
Related Questions
How can I tell if a water drain leak is minor or a sign of a bigger problem?
A small leak can look harmless, but it can snowball fast. Minor leaks often go unnoticed until they’ve already done damage. If it keeps coming back, spreading, or if there’s a musty smell nearby, it’s probably more than a surface issue. We recommend not waiting for it to get worse. Even small leaks can quietly lead to wood rot, mold, or damage to the surrounding structure, and that’s when the repair bill gets expensive.
Can baking soda actually help with clogged or leaking drains?
Sometimes, baking soda can help with clogged or leaking drains. If you’re dealing with a slow drain or mild buildup, pouring some baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar can help loosen the gunk inside the pipe. But if you’re noticing repeated leaks, that’s not something baking soda will fix. Persistent drain issues are usually connected to bigger plumbing issues like the problems we mentioned above (old pipes, damaged water lines, or loose water connectors).
Is excess water pressure bad for my drain pipes?
High water pressure is one of the quickest ways to shorten the lifespan of your plumbing. If your water pressure is too high, it puts a lot of stress on everything from joints and fittings to the drain pipes themselves. This pressure can weaken seals and cause pipe movement that can eventually lead to costly repairs.
What does my air handler have to do with water leaks?
The air handler (the part of your HVAC system that moves air throughout the house) has air handler drain pans underneath to collect condensation. If the pan gets clogged, cracked, or even just overflows because the drain line is blocked, it can leak water into walls, ceilings, or floors. This type can easily be mistaken for a plumbing issue, especially when it’s the attic or a closet.
Can septic tank issues lead to water drain leaks inside the house?
It’s rare, but it can happen. If your septic system is backed up or starting to fail, you might notice slow drains, gurgling toilets, or water pooling near your drain field. In extreme cases, pressure from a full septic tank can push wastewater back into your home’s drain lines, which could cause leaks or even sewage backups.
Don’t Wait Until It’s a Flood
If you’re in Oklahoma City and you need a licensed plumber to fix your water drain leaks, Leak Chasers is just a call away! Contact our team today for more information.