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Bacteria are everywhere. There are millions of different types of bacteria lingering around in your plumbing system and pipes, but the majority of them are pretty much harmless. Even if you ingest them, they won’t harm your health at all. Unfortunately, there are some bacteria that are harmful and pathogenic. It’s vital that you avoid any exposure as much as possible, as any exposure can lead to severe sickness.
Although you can practically find bacteria just about everywhere and anywhere, they do thrive in wet environments and conditions, which means that they can easily make a home in your plumbing system. You should get regular drain cleaning services in Mansfield, TX to avoid bacteria and other contaminants.
Below, we’ll look at 5 of the most common bacteria that you might find in your drains. These bacteria are easily removed with drain cleaning services. If you are worried about any other bacteria or virus, you should speak with a plumber. Most homeowners won’t have to worry about bacteria until they are infected with it.
#1. Legionella
Legionella bacteria are making a big comeback. Many stores that were scheduled for re-opening are now finding that their water supply is contaminated with this type of bacteria. It’s largely because the water in the pipes have remained stagnant for quite some time. Exposure to Legionella bacteria can lead to an increased risk of developing Legionnaire’s disease, which is a very severe respiratory condition. In worst-case scenarios, this disease can be deadly.
The issue with Legionella bacteria is that it might not be completely removed with a drain cleaning service. This is because it is very easy for Legionella bacteria to hide in biofilm and even nooks and crannies of the plumbing. Even with a drain cleaning service, it is possible for there to be trace amounts of bacteria that will then multiple and become a problem once again.
When it comes to Legionella disease, you might need to hire a water treatment service. They may need to use some disinfectants, in combination with the Mansfield, TX drain cleaning service, to get rid of all traces of the bacteria. It can be a very complicated process, and it can also be very time-consuming. This is also why you should speak with a plumber if you plan on leaving your house unoccupied for some time. It is very easy for Legionella bacteria to contaminate any water that’s stagnant. If you plan on going on a vacation for a month, get a plumber to come and take some preventative measures to prevent coming home from a headache.
#2. Campylobacter Jejuni
Campylobacter Jejuni is one of the most harmful bacteria in the U.S. Surprisingly, they are also quite common, as they are actually one of the leading causes of food-borne illnesses. Those who are under the age of 5 and those who are between the ages of 15 and 29 tend to be most susceptible to getting sick from these bacteria. Unfortunately, it’s fairly easy for these bacteria to thrive in your plumbing and pipes. They can easily make their way there and stay there.
Another problem is that you don’t need to be exposed to a lot of these bacteria to get sick. Studies show that it takes as few as 500 bacteria cells to cause illness. So, if you wash your vegetables in contaminated water, you’re basically guaranteed to get a food-borne illness.
The good news is that these bacteria will die when exposed to chlorine. As a result, all you really need to do is make sure that your water supply was chlorinated and treated at some point in time. That should get rid of the bacteria. If you’re unsure of whether your water supply was treated before, you can always speak with a plumber to learn more. Another piece of good news is that a drain cleaning service can easily get rid of these bacteria. It’s not something that sticks around for too long, so you won’t need to be too worried.
#3. Escherichia coli
In general, Escherichia coli are good bacteria for your gut. However, there are six groups of bacteria in this family that are pathogenic and can transmit food-borne illnesses. This type of bacteria can be found in your sinks and in your plumbing. The bad news is that you can get pretty sick if you get exposed to these bacteria. The semi-good news is that you likely won’t die from it.
Fortunately, this is also one of the easier bacteria to get rid of. If you get your drains cleaned periodically, you likely won’t have to worry about these bacteria much. It’s also not that easy to transmit to other people as long as you practice good hygiene. You can also get rid of these bacteria quite easily if you disinfect your sinks. The only problem is that it can be difficult to get rid of if it is in your plumbing.
One thing that you should know about this bacteria is that you can be an asymptomatic carrier of the bacteria. If that happens, you may unknowingly spread the bacteria to other people if you simply touch the same surface that they touch. If you are getting your drains cleaned, then you might also need to disinfect your entire home. It might be best to speak with a professional about how to go about this. A Mansfield, TX professional cleaning service can easily get rid of any bacteria that might be hiding in the nooks and crannies of your home, so you won’t have to worry about getting re-infected.
#4. Salmonella
Salmonella is perhaps one of the most common household names. This is one of the most known bacteria in the world. There are different types of Salmonella species, and they can cause two very common illnesses: gastrointestinal illness and typhoidal illness.
Most people think that you can also be exposed to Salmonella if you eat unclean food. However, this is not always the case. This is also one of the types of bacteria that can be thriving in your plumbing. If your water is contaminated, you will also contaminate your food source if you wash your vegetables using the water from your sink.
Fortunately, cleaning your drains can also get rid of these bacteria. If you were recently exposed to Salmonella, like from vegetables that you brought home, there’s a good chance that there are trace amounts lingering in your drains. You should definitely clean your drains if that’s the case.
#5. Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning, pneumonia, and even toxic shock if it gets into your blood supply. If you drink tap water that’s infested with these bacteria, you could go into shock or it could cause a huge strain on your body.
This type of bacteria thrives in wet conditions, which is why you can easily find it in your plumbing and pipes. It is incredibly resilient and can even survive in dry environments or places with low water levels. If it is in your plumbing, it could make its way to your sink and survive there even though the water levels there are low. Being exposed to as little as 1 microgram or less of these bacteria can lead to an infection or even to illness. More importantly, if you have food sitting near your sink, exposure to these bacteria can contaminate the food; thus, increasing your risk of getting food poisoning.
Worst of all, if you get exposed to these bacteria, you can easily transmit it to someone else if you cough or sneeze in their general vicinity. If you sneeze on a surface, the other person can become infected if they touch the same surface.
How Often Are Drain Cleaning Services Needed?
So, how often should you opt for drain cleaning services in Mansfield, TX? Most experts recommend scheduling a cleaning at least once a year. The cleaning will ensure that your water quality remains in tiptop shape and that there are no contaminants that may be harmful to your health.
During the drain cleaning service, our experts will also do a video camera inspection. This is really important as it will help identify whether there are any other issues that need to be addressed. For example, during the train cleaning, our experts will be able to check and see whether there are any leaks or cracks in your pipes. The moment that they notice a leak, they can patch it up immediately. This prevents the leak from worsening and creating more water damage in the future.
Although we recommend getting a drain cleaning service at least once a year, there are some exceptions. If you have moved into a new house, it is typically okay if you forget to schedule a drain cleaning service every so often. On the other hand, if you notice that your drains are constantly getting clogged, you might want to consider getting drain cleaning services more frequently.
Be Extra Careful of Pre-Existing Bacterial Flora
If you have already dealt with bacterial contamination sometime in the past, then you might need to get more frequent drain cleaning services. The moment that your pipes have been contaminated, the risk of them getting contaminated again in the future will increase exponentially. This is because it is very easy for trace amounts of bacteria to linger inside your plumbing.
One of the main problems is that most bacteria will protect themselves with biofilm or they may hide inside of amoebas and other bacteria. As a result, they can be notoriously difficult to remove. Even if you had recently cleaned your drains and gotten rid of any dirt, doesn’t other sediments that might be hiding inside, it is quite easy for the lingering bacteria to once again multiply and spread.
If your pipes were once contaminated with bacteria, then there’s a good chance that the bacteria may be coming from a source upstream. If that source becomes contaminated again, you will be dealing with another contamination even if you have cleaned your drains recently. This is why it is important to find the source of the bacterial contamination.
In this situation, you might want to schedule a drain cleaning service much more frequently. Or, you might want to get your water quality tested periodically just to make sure that the tap water is safe for consumption. There are many different government services that can test your water supply for you. You can also purchase some kits to try at home by yourself. Another thing that you can do is get a plumbing company to do the testing for you.
Call Us for Drain Cleaning Services in Mansfield, TX
Make sure that your drains are in great condition and that you don’t have to worry about any bacteria. Regular drain cleaning services is an important part of home maintenance.
Here, at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth serving Mansfield, TX, we offer a wide range of plumbing services, including drain cleaning services. Our plumbers are licensed and insured and are committed to providing you with an unsurpassed level of care. We will do our best to ensure that your plumbing is in the best shape possible at all times. If you schedule regular drain cleaning services with us, we will also be able to get a good idea of what your plumbing needs as it ages. We’ll know what to look for and what types of issues that your plumbing is most likely to struggle with.
For more information about our plumbing services or to schedule a drain cleaning service with us, call 817-983-7876. One of our professionals can walk you through the entire process and help answer any questions or concerns that you may have. If you are dealing with bacterial contamination, you might need more than just a simple drain cleaning. You will also need to treat the water and find the source of the problem, so you can eliminate it entirely.