We understand the confusion when it comes to chemical drain cleaners. After all, there’s a whole aisle at the grocery store devoted to different shiny brands of cool-looking chemicals that promise to remove any and all drain clogs just by pouring them out! It sounds simple, but many things like these are too good to be true.
If you’re reading this blog, then we’re confident you’re smart enough not to be tricked and upsold by some cool brand logos and a bright-colored bottle that “promises” a lot of things. In fact, you’re probably here because you don’t trust this kind of plumbing solution, and that skepticism is good.
The truth is that many problems can come from these caustic chemicals. They do more harm than good and over time, they’ll push you to need plumbing repair in Montgomery County. We’ll talk about why down below, you just need to keep reading!
How Chemical Drain Cleaners Work
Chemical drain cleaners work by using acidic or caustic materials to interact with whatever is clogging your drain to “hopefully” dissolve it can clear things up. While this sounds good in theory (you dump the chemical down the drain and your clog is relieved), it never really happens like this in practice.
Caustic chemicals can react to more than just the materials clogging your drain. They can chemically react with the lining of your pipe system, eating away at the protective coating that seals your pipes and keeps things from leaking out of them. Over time, and with continued usage of these chemicals, you’ll see a huge increase in problems and the need for plumbing repairs.
While yes, chemical drain solutions can dissolve clogs, they can react with anything else they come in contact with. Chemical drain cleaners are kind of like dealing with a mold infestation by setting fire to your house–it’s overkill and it doesn’t really solve the problem.
Why We Don’t Recommend Them
Here are four specific reasons why we don’t recommend homeowners use chemicals to clean their drains. Instead, you can always call us for professional drain cleaning services.
- The fumes can be hazardous. Many of these chemicals release fumes that can be harmful to breathe in. This might sound like a temporary problem, but they can last in your kitchen or bathroom for hours or even days!
- Chemical burns are common. Coming into contact with these chemicals can leave you with a rash or a chemical burn. These are not fun and sometimes require medical attention.
- They’ll deteriorate your pipe lining. As we mentioned above, many of these chemicals will react with your plumbing system and cause problems to develop down the line.
- They’re harmful to the environment. Imagine taking some caustic chemicals and pouring them into your newly built garden. You can imagine how devastating that would be. Well, many of these chemicals end up in the soil of your community, and they can encounter critters and crops. This can have a pretty bad impact on the overall ecosystem of your community.
Contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to invest in proper drain cleaning or plumbing repair services.