4 Things Plumbers Want You To Know About Chemical Drain Cleaners

Plumbers handle residential drain clogs every day, and they know what a hassle they can be. They’re so annoying, in fact, that many homeowners turn to harsh, chemical drain cleaners to rid themselves of the slow flows in their sink, shower and tub drains. Though a substantial amount of money is spent in the U.S. every year on these chemicals, plumbers know they can be a very bad choice for a number of reasons:

1 – Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Toxic
A list of some of the standard ingredients in most chemical drain cleaners – bleach, lye and liquid glass, among others – will give you an idea of just how toxic these cleaners are.  Of course, they have to be harsh in order to dissolve plugs of hair, grease, toothpaste, food and other drain debris. Unfortunately, these same chemicals that are designed to clear drains can also emit fumes that irritate human eyes, noses, throats and lungs.  In addition to mucosal irritation, chemical drain cleaners can, when mixed with other household chemicals like ammonia, cause the corrosive mixture to burst from the drain, creating a burn hazard for anyone standing nearby.

2 – Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Not Environmentally-Friendly
Even when chemical drain cleaners are used according to the directions and the clog and cleaner are flushed through your pipes and away from your home, they continue to be a hazard. Eventually, the drain cleaner residue will enter the ecosystem to contaminate groundwater, lakes and rivers, and according to Clemson University’s National Ag Safety Database, kill beneficial bacteria in municipal water treatment facilities that help to decompose waste.  Chemical drain cleaner residue can kill fish and wildlife, and contaminate soil in and around lakes and streams.

3 – Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Bad For Plumbing
If you’ve used chemical drain cleaners before, you know that it takes some time for them to sit in your drain before they make any kind of headway on your clog. While the cleaner is sitting in your drain, its destructive ingredients aren’t just attacking your clog, they’re also attacking your pipes. Even chemical cleaners that claim not to harm pipes do exactly that, whether your pipes are PVC or metal. Metal can corrode and PVC pipes can melt, especially if you use these types of cleaners often.

4 – Chemical Drain Cleaners Don’t Always Work
Not all slow drains are caused by clogs. Sometimes, they’re caused by backups in the sewer line or broken pipes somewhere in your home, and harsh chemicals won’t solve the problem. Even when clogs are the reason you have a slow-moving drain, chemical drain cleaners don’t always work to dissolve them. When they do, they often take several applications, which is very bad for your plumbing. Using a plunger or removing a sink stopper and manually removing hair or other debris you can reach is a better course of action than bombarding your pipes with caustic cleaners. When these self-help methods don’t work, you should call a plumber who will have a number of non-lethal weapons in his arsenal to clear all of your drain clogs.

To get the help of one of the best plumbers in Longview, TX, call Bird Dog Plumbing at (903) 225-2272. You can also visit www.birddogplumbingllc.com to learn more about the complete line of plumbing services we offer.

Plumbers Longview TX
Bird Dog Plumbing LLC
2206 Balsam St
Longview, Texas 75605
903-225-2272