Why You Should Never Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

Imagine inviting your friends to your place for a Friday night dinner, and while you’re all in the thick of your delight, you gaze upon your flooded sink– what a time to get a clog! So, to shun any embarrassment, you immediately pick up your chemical drain cleaner to try and unclog your sink. Thankfully, it was a minor clog, and now you can pick up from where you left off and enjoy the rest of the night.

However, while you may have gotten away with your quick drain cleaning this time, you may not be able to in your next chance. Or worse, the same chemical you pour down your sink may actually harm your pipe more than it could help resolve its issue.

You may not be aware, but chemical drain cleaners are a “no-no” for your plumbing. Explore this blog to know why.

Ineffectiveness on Certain Clogs

Your drain cleaning chemical may have saved you from sudden clogs this time, but consider yourself lucky, as they are organic blockages that your cleaning agent was able to melt away. Should you have other types of blockages, your cleaning acid would have struggled to unclog your sink or may not have done anything at all to relieve the clog. 

This is because not all chemical drain cleaners are a one-fits-all solution. They may work on minor organic clogs like grease or sediment build-up, but they are no match to solid particles like wipes, plastics, and other hard food particles. Add to this drawback the fact that there are different types of chemicals, and using the wrong one can only harm your pipes without even alleviating your drain crisis.

Damages Your Pipes

Ask your local plumber why you shouldn’t use chemical cleaners, and he’s most likely to point out how these solutions can damage your plumbing. That’s right– aside from melting organic clogs, their corrosive properties can also hurt your pipes, especially when your tubes have seen their better days.

You might be surprised one day when these chemicals are able to address your clogs, but then realize your pipes have prematurely cracked or corroded, leaving you with bigger problems and hefty drain repair costs to stress out about.

Drain Chemical Cleaners are Toxic

Notice those fumes hurting your senses every time you pour your drain chemicals? Some chemical cleaners release harmful fumes that are strong enough to knock you out if you inhale them too much, especially in a non-ventilated area.

Most chemicals can also stick to surfaces longer and cause prolonged eye, nose, and skin irritation. If they’re toxic to your PVC or metal pipes, how much more could it be to your body?

Environmental Hazard

After hurting your senses, these harmful substances will go on to harm the environment. When you flush them down your drain, there’s a high probability that they will end up in waterways, disrupting aquatic life and contaminating the environment.  

In the end, this water and soil contamination will come back and haunt you. They may affect the safety and quality of your water supply, leaving you grappling with its effects for a long time.

Got Drain Problems? Get Cornwell Plumbing on the Line for Professional Drain Services

Now that you’re aware of how chemical drain cleaners do more harm than good, you might want to consider sticking to your vinegar and baking soda solution as a natural, safer drain-cleaning remedy. Or if your DIY approach no longer cuts your drain trouble, call an expert back-up for a fast and effective answer.

For this, you can contact Cornwell Plumbing for expert drain services at affordable pricing. We offer a comprehensive drain cleaning service that gets to the bottom of your clogs, no matter how severe. With 36 years of plumbing experience, you’re guaranteed to get fast-acting and lasting drain solutions.

So, turn your Friday nights into epic nights without any plumbing scare. Get Cornwell Plumbing on speed dial now!