If you have a clogged drain, simply pouring a liquid down it seems like a simple solution. However, these chemical drain cleaners can cause damage to your pipes, septic tank, and health. Before you pick up a bottle of drain cleaner again, find out what is in these products and how dangerous these substances can be.
What Ingredients Are in Chemical Drain Cleaners?
Often, drain cleaners will have directions stating to never mix brands. This warning comes from the vastly different compositions of the products. While all drain cleaners should dissolve the proteins causing clogs, some use highly acidic solutions to do it while others use alkaline mixtures. Combining these two can result in a chemical reaction that leads to dangerous foam spreading through the drain. It is a much more dangerous version of the science-fair vinegar and baking soda volcano experiment.
Acidic drain cleaners frequently use sulfuric acid. Alkaline compositions use either lye or sodium hydroxide. When any of these contacts human skin, you can experience severe burning and pain. If contact with the eyes occurs, you may lose your eyesight. Ingestion of drain cleaners could lead to holes in the stomach or esophagus, throat swelling, or death. These effects could happen even weeks after ingestion. Not having these substances in your home is the better solution than putting your family or pets at risk of coming in contact with these chemicals.
Damage to Plumbing from Chemical Drain Cleaners
Your home’s plumbing system can experience similar problems as your internal organs from using drain cleaners, especially in excessive amounts. The drain cleaners can eat through some types of pipes and cause holes in the system. The last thing that you need are holes in your waste pipes, depositing toilet waste inside your walls or in your backyard.
If you have a septic tank, the chemicals in the drain cleaner will kill the bacteria in the tank. Because these are good bacteria in the tank to help with breaking down plumbing waste, killing them off will keep your septic tank from doing its job.
Call a Plumber Instead of Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
Don’t pour another bottle of a strong chemical down your drain. You could harm your health and your pipes. First, use a plunger to try to clear the drain. If that doesn’t work, call a plumber to professionally clear out the drain using a high-grade plumbing snake or water jetting.
If you have already used a liquid drain cleaner do not plunge the drain. Also, warn the plumber about the drain cleaner when you call. The plumber will need to know to take precautions to avoid exposing themselves to the chemical.
Choose Best Service Plumber for Drain Clearing and Other Plumbing Services
For clogged drains, put down the chemical drain cleaners and pick up your phone to call (951) 338-8624 to reach us at Best Service Plumber. Our team of experts will help to remove the problem with your drain through our high-tech drain cleaning methods, none of which require the use of caustic chemicals.