There’s a good chance you have heard at least a few horror stories about clogged drains. For most people, a simple and go-to solution for this common problem is to go to the store and pick up a chemical drain cleaner. Unfortunately, you may not realize that these products can actually cause a lot more harm to your drains and pipes than you realize.
How Chemicals Can Damage Your Pipes
You can find chemical drain cleaners in several forms, including crystal, foam, powder, gel, and liquid. While they come in these different forms, they all work similarly. When you pour the drain cleaner into your bathtub or sink, the chemicals will begin to react with whatever is clogged in the pipes, which causes a chemical reaction and produces heat. The heat will help to eliminate the clog or to liquefy it so that it can continue moving through the drain. What you don’t realize is that the heat is not just impacting the clog. It is also causing issues for the pipes, especially if they are made out of plastic or any type of older metal.
Reasons to Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
Some of the top reasons to avoid using these chemical drain cleaners can be found here. Knowing the issues will help you see why they are not a good idea.
They Pose a Serious Health Hazard
Chemical drain cleaners (as the name implies) are full of chemicals. Because of this, many produce toxic and unhealthy fumes that can cause serious irritation to a person’s airways, and that may be toxic. Also, if you are like many homeowners, you may not take time to read the warnings on the label, and you may not follow the instructions related to the potential hazards the product presents. If you do not use the chemical drain cleaner properly, or if you don’t properly ventilate the area first, it can cause serious health issues. These strong chemicals, which are dissolving tough clogs, can also cause serious burns to your skin.
Damage to Your Plumbing Fixtures
The strong acids in a chemical drain cleaner can actually cause damage to your fixtures. If you happen to get this on bathtubs or sinks, it can destroy the enamel-based finish. If this damage occurs, you must replace the entire fixture. Some chemical drain cleaners can dissolve some metal and create holes in certain materials.
Corrosion
Again, the chemicals that are included in modern drain cleaning solutions are strong enough to cut through grease, soap, hair, and more. Unfortunately, these products are also corrosive and can cause serious damage to your pipes. If you use them too often, you will eventually have to invest in new piping.
When it comes to your home plumbing system, it is best to avoid the use of chemical drain cleaners. A better option is to call the professionals who can use safe and effective methods to eliminate clogs and get your drains flowing freely once again.