When Shouldn't You Use Drain Cleaner?

6/30/2020 (Permalink)

You may be tempted to treat a clogged drain with store-bought drain cleaner in Hall County. However, you should be careful about when and how you apply this potent chemical liquid. There are certain situations in which drain cleaner should never be used, in order to prevent more damage from occurring.

Plastic Pipes

The chemicals in drain cleaner react together to transfer electrons to and from organic substances, causing them to break down. This process also produces heat - that's how they force their way down further into the pipe. These two factors mean that they can warp and eat through piping made of pliable materials, like plastic. The three types of cleaners you should stay away from if you do have plastic pipes are:

• Sulfiric or muriatic acid cleaners
• Lye or caustic potash cleaners
• Bleach, peroxide or nitrate cleaners
  

Total Blockage

Often, drain cleaners won't be able to clear a clogged drain if there is a solid mass of hair, oil and debris completely blocking the flow of air and liquid. So, if they are used in these situations, the cleaner ends up sitting there above the block. Given enough time, the strong chemicals can deal out some real damage to your pipes, even if they aren't plastic or old.

Old Pipes

Old pipes will have a lot of the same problems as plastic pipes, because they are brittle and delicate. If you discover that your pipes are old or rusting, you are probably better off replacing your plumbing rather than going through sewage cleaning. New pipes are the best way to ensure that one doesn't burst, and you have water damage remediation to deal with instead of a blockage.

Most people don't even know there are other options for dealing with a clogged drain. Instead of chemical cleaner, you can try a drain snake. Ask your local hardware store for more guidance.