Drain-unclogging chemicals may look like a quick and easy solution, yet liquid drain cleaners can do more harm than good. Not surprisingly, you won’t catch a plumbing professional using one of those products in their own homes. We compiled a few explanations and tips you might need for managing a plumbing clog.
All liquid drain cleaners work in the same way. The chemicals start reacting with the blockage in the pipes and generate heating gas, which dissolves the clog. Peroxides and bleach are so powerful when it comes to killing cells that very small amounts are actually generated and used by the human body’s immune system against bacteria; prolonged exposure with commercial amounts of these substances is therefore potentially fatal or harmful. Touching bleach for a bit can cause a chemical burn on your skin while inhaling or ingesting some will burn through your entire digestive system and can be fatal if not treated right away, so it’s best to avoid handling these chemicals when an expert can fix the issue for you without using them.
Besides their risk of harm to the user, drain cleaners can actually damage your pipes. If a clog is so severe that the drain cleaner cannot get rid of it then it can potentially stay stuck in your pipes, slowly degrading anything inside of them. Older pipes which have seen wear and tear from years of use are especially susceptible to damage from drain cleaners.
Clogs may not be the only problem causing a backup or slowed flow/drainage. A broken pipe can cause issues as well and that obviously cannot be fixed with a cleaning solution. If you believe it may be a simple clog then try using your toilet plunger or a plumbing snake; should these solutions not work then your best bet is to hire a professional plumber that can resolve the issue safely and without risk to your pipes. Contact Boston Drain Company online or call us 24/7 at 617-265-8888!