Why Liquid Drain Cleaners Are No Solution for Clogged Drains

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When there’s a clogged drain in your home, your natural inclination may be to run to the closest hardware store and buy a chemical cleaning solution. After all, these are marketed towards homeowners and renters who are looking for a quick and cheap way to clear up a slowed or stopped up drain—especially a bathroom drain that could be clogged up with hair and soap scum. Most plumbers would advise against using these liquid drain solutions though, and we are no exception.

For thorough drain cleaning in Richmond, TX, you need much more than chemical drain cleaners. We’ll get into the problems with liquid drain solutions below, as well as some more viable options for drain cleaning.

Your Chemical Drain Cleaner Only Dissolves Some Clogs

This is the first, and probably most important, thing you should know about these chemical drain cleaners—they’re formulated to dissolve some, but not all, sources of drain clogs. Grease, grime, food particles, and some other particles may simply just get move around in your pipes.

You Might Make the Problem Worse

Some of the particles that chemical drain solutions aren’t able to dissolve might only get pushed further along in your drain line. This is one way you can end up with clogs deep along your sewer line, which requires professional tools and equipment to remove—not to mention you could end up with a massive clog that impacts your entire plumbing system rather than one isolated area.

Chemical Drain Cleaners Have Side Effects

In addition to the face that they might not resolve your drain clogging problems, chemical drain cleaners do have other side effects as well. First off, they’re toxic to humans and pets. They can cause injury to the skin and eyes (which is why you absolutely must keep them out of reach).

Secondly, they can actually eat away at the lining of your drain pipes. This can lead to the premature replacement of your pipes—something that most people want to avoid!

Call on Our Plumbers for the Tough Jobs

Now, we won’t say that there’s nothing you can do about a minor clog without a professional. In fact if you have a single drain that seems to be moving a bit sluggish, such as your kitchen sink drain, you can try using a bit of baking soda and vinegar. First, add ½ cup of baking soda, and follow it up with a cup of vinegar. Wait 15-30 minutes and then wash that all down with a pot of hot water (please do be extremely careful as to not burn yourself).

There are some drain clogs, however, that you simply need a pro for. We can get in there with a professional-grade high-pressure hose to clear out the drains. This service is known as hydro-jetting, and is highly effective at not only removing the clog, but preventing subsequent clogs from forming. In some cases we may be able to relieve the clog with a drain snake. Regardless of the method our plumbers use, you can trust that your pipes will be left in good, if not better, condition, which is a promise that liquid drain cleaners just can’t make.

For services you can depend on, contact Doug Turner Plumbing CO. today!