Although drain cleaner is a popular product, found in nearly every supermarket and home goods store in the United States, it may not be as useful as most consumers think it is. There are, as a matter of fact, numerous hazards that can result from using drain cleaner in your home. As you read this brief guide, you will learn more about five key reasons to never use drain cleaner. By the time you reach the end of this list, you are sure to have a much better understanding of the issues drain cleaning products can cause.

They can destroy pipes – Modern plumbing pipes are typically made from PVC, while the pipes in older homes that haven’t been remodeled are often metal. Various chemicals that are commonly found in drain cleaners can eat away at both of these types of pipes. In order to avoid destroying your house’s plumbing and needing serious repairs, it’s best to call professionals and avoid drain cleaner.
They may not work – The drain cleaners you can buy at stores don’t work on every clog. Severe clogs often require experts to “snake” the drain or use other professional-grade equipment. If you use conventional drain cleaner and it doesn’t work, you will actually make more work for yourself because you’ll have to completely flush the drain so the chemicals in the cleaner don’t corrode your pipes, causing more problems than you already have.
Your clothing could get ruined – Because the chemicals in drain cleaners are intended to eat away at clogs, which are often made of dead skin cells and hair, they will also degrade other natural fibers, including cotton, silk, and other common fabrics. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for people’s clothing to get destroyed when they use drain cleaners. Even the tiniest splash could ruin an outfit.
You could sustain burns – As frustrating as it would be to have your clothing ruined in a drain cleaner fiasco, far worse would be sustaining burns on your skin. The chemicals in drain cleaning products are harsh and have the ability to burn even the tiniest sliver of exposed skin. In some cases, the burns caused by these cleaners can be serious, requiring immediate medical attention and ultimately resulting in permanent scarring.
Inhaling the chemicals can be harmful – In addition to the physical harm that can come from using drain cleaners, merely inhaling them can be dangerous. If you fail to use proper ventilation or wear a mask, you could find yourself dealing with long-term respiratory issues. In rare cases, people have died from breathing in large amounts of the chemicals used in drain cleaning goods; although this is highly unlikely, it’s still important to be aware and to take the proper precautions.

Due to all of these potential issues, instead of using drain cleaner next time you have a clog at home, just call Boston Drain Company. Our professionals will assess the situation, provide you with an all-inclusive quote, and get you on the schedule right away. We don’t want you to be without fully functional drains, so trust us to deal with the problem next time your sinks or tubs aren’t working properly.