Store bought drain cleaners are some of the most hazardous chemicals found in American households. They don’t just pose a risk to your family’s health, they can also damage your home’s plumbing system and bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
Chemical drain cleaners are available in several forms; alkaline drain cleaners contain sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Acidic drain cleaners contain concentrated sulfuric acid. Other chemicals typically found in household drain cleaning products include bleach and lye.
While chemical drain cleaners can be quite effective at dislodging organic matter from the area immediately below the drain opening, they are less effective at clearing tougher clogs that occur further down the drain pipe.
Because chemical drain cleaning work by causing a chemical reaction when coming into contact with the organic matter that’s clogging the drain pipe, it’s important that they be added slowly and that you take measures to prevent any potential contact with the chemicals. Coming into contact with drain cleaners can cause chemical burns, blindness and inflammation to your respiratory system.
Aside from the health hazards, chemical drain cleaners can also corrode pipes and cause damage to various materials in your kitchen or bathroom, such as wood, paint, aluminum and fiberglass.
The Advantages of Professional Drain Cleaning
The safest – and most effective – way to clear clogged drains is to call a professional plumber. Plumbers use mechanical means to physically remove the toughest clogs that chemical drain cleaners either cannot reach or fail fully dissolve.
Best of all, you won’t need to store hazardous chemicals in your home, risking your family’s health and potentially damaging your plumbing system. So the next time you have a clogged drain emergency, call Village Plumbing and Home Services. We’ll arrive in minutes not hours to unclog your drains, FAST.