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Why You Should Avoid Commercial Drain Cleaners

admin • Jul 18, 2018

Drain clogs are some of the most common plumbing problems at home. Most of us do not feel inclined to call a professional plumber any time we suffer a drain clog. And while it is recommendable that you try out some do-it-yourself remedies before calling your local plumber to unclog your drain, it doesn’t always work to your success if you follow the DIY route. Anyway, you can always try to unclog a simple or mild clog using a plunger. We all know how that works and if you don’t, you can always Google the procedure. You can also use a plumbing snake to clear out you drains. A plumbing snake with go right through the clog and clear the blocked pipes. But if all these DIY solutions fail, most of us resort to the use of commercial liquid drain cleaners. Actually some homeowners use these drain cleaners even before attempting any of the aforementioned DIY remedies. As much as these drain cleaners are advertised to work, they can be very hazardous in some instances.

We will now look at some of the dangers or problems of using commercial liquid drain learners to clear your clogged drain and sewer pipes. A plumber can perform a sewer line inspection with a special camera on the end of a snake to find clogs, locate damage, and minimize repair time.

 

 

Pipe Damage

Anyone who is familiar with the chemical composition and the functional operation of liquid drain cleaners will tell you that they work through chemical reactions. Most of these drain cleaners cause chemical reactions using hydrochloric acid in your pipes to clear the clog. These reactions are supposed to consume or “eat away” the clog thereby clearing your drain and sewer lines. As you can imagine, these chemical reactions produce a lot of heat inside your drain and sewer pipes. If the pipes are metallic, then they can withstand this heat to a certain degree. But if the pipes are plastic they can end up melting and getting damaged by these chemical reactions. Even metal sewer pipes tend to crack and leak when exposed to such high temperatures. In order to keep your drain and sewer pipes in good condition, avoid using these commercial liquid drain cleaners.

Health Hazard

In addition to posing danger to your drain and sewer lines, these liquid drain cleaners also expose you and your family to harm. These reactions can be very hazardous to your health if you are not properly outfitted for the process. The fumes produced by these reactions can affect your eyes, nose, throat, and even your lungs. You are advised to always wear protective clothing including gloves, goggles, and even an ear-loop face mask to protect you from these fumes. You can also be injured by some of these commercial liquid drain cleaners if they reach your skin. Avoid splashing the drain cleaners when using them. Or keep off from these artificial drain cleaners and call your local plumber for assistance.

Unreliable Unclogging Solution

And last but not least, commercial liquid drain cleaners do not always work. You might end up spending your time and money on commercial drain cleaners but the clog will still persist. You need to call a professional plumber who does sewer line inspection in Alexandria to diagnose the cause of your clog before fixing it. You can get a very fair price if you hire the right plumber.

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By Drains & Clogs • 25 May, 2021
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