The chemicals in commercial drain cleaners, particularly the off-brand and inexpensive varieties, have high toxicity levels. The fumes aren’t healthy to inhale, and will sting and irritate your nose and eyes. These fumes hang around wherever the chemical was used, long after it goes down the drain.
The chemicals in these cleaners can damage pipes while supposedly “cleaning” them. The principle chemical in commercial cleaning solutions is hydrochloric acid, which will not only gnaw at pipes as it sits in them, it will chew off the enamel and other expensive finishes in your kitchen or bathroom.
These chemicals are bad for the environment. The residue left in bottles ends up in landfills, and can enter the water, poisoning fish, and other wildlife. Your septic tank will suffer from the input of any chemicals to its system.They may not even work. Drains sometimes back up because of trouble in the sewer line, or because of broken pipes. Dumping chemicals down a drain won’t fix these problems, and you will still have all the above issues as well. You’re better off with a plunger.
Sitting on the shelves of grocery stores and big box stores, liquid drain cleaners seem like a bargain and a quick solution when a drain in your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room backs up. I have found liquid chemical drain cleaners are not good for cleaning drains!
Stubborn clogs in sinks, tubs and toilets are unfortunately all too common. When drains start backing up, it is tempting to grab a commercially available drain cleaning chemical to remove the clog and get back to normal life. Before you reach for that liquid drain cleaner, stop!
The old adage notes that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Treating the symptoms of a drain clog may solve the problem for awhile, but treating the cause can offer a permanent solution. Any time you have a slow drain, standing water or other plumbing concern, having the situation evaluated by a plumber is always the best option.
Remember, this comes from years of experience cleaning drains. If you want more information about how to fix clogs and other plumbing woes, without these bottles of chemicals, talk to a reputable drain cleaning company.