Dealing with a clogged drain is uncomfortable, time-consuming, and plain annoying! When residents are fed up with clogged drains, they frequently turn to liquid drains. However, are they effective? Is it possible to utilize them without risking your health? In this blog, we go over all there is to know about liquid drain cleaners.
A clogged pipe can detract significantly from your home’s overall appeal. It can result in an increase in water flow, a foul stench, and a stale ambiance in your home.
The majority of people become overly concerned about drainage and seek the services of a plumber. Plumbers can be prohibitively expensive in most circumstances, and they rarely provide long-term water drainage solutions.
Drain cleaners make entirely removing obstructions and blockages considerably more accessible and more effective. Moreover, people aren’t sure what makes a drainage system operate in the first place. It’s critical to understand how a drain cleaner works to unclog drains in your bathroom, kitchen, or anywhere else.
Table of Contents
The Effects Of Drain Cleaner On Your Health
Consumer drain cleaners come in a range of formulations, including liquid, gel and powder, with an active ingredient that is most often a solid basic or acid. Sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide is a frequent active component in household cleansers.
Acids, such as sulfuric acid may be present in other cleaners. What’s the big deal? So, you can use the drain cleaners effectively and potentially with the proper care considerations.
A plumber specializes in drain cleaning and has the instruments needed to properly visualize and remove a drain without endangering residents’ health and storing potentially hazardous chemicals in your property, which might lead to leaks and costly repairs down the line.
Professionals Don’t Recommend The Usage Of Drain Cleaner
If you’re considering buying a liquid drain cleaner, you most likely have a significant clog in your sink or bathtub that prevents water from draining correctly. Instead of using an enzyme-based cleaner, safer for your drain, you’ll reach for a chemical cleaner. Chemical cleaners, contrary to popular belief, do more harm than good.
Chemical cleaners contain solid acids and bases that obliterate almost anything they come into contact with, from clogged drains to the pipe’s material.
Your drains will corrode and leak if they are exposed to these harsh chemicals long enough. Cleaners just burn a hole large enough to allow more water to pass through than would otherwise be allowed.
A Few Considerations Before Using The Drain Cleaner
Either enzymes or chemicals are used in liquid drain cleaners. The clog in drains is eaten away at or burned away by these substances. Enzyme-based liquid drain cleaners, on the other hand, digest clogs and cause relatively minor pipe damage.
On the other hand, chemical-based liquid drain cleaners have chemical ingredients that interact with the substance that causes the clog and, as a result, burn the obstruction with the gaseous heat caused by the reaction.
1) Check The Material Type Of Pipe
Most liquid drain cleaners work by causing a chemical reaction inside your drainpipe, which is often aided by hydrochloric acid. These reactions usually produce heat, which might damage the pipe irreversibly.
This is especially true if the cleaner doesn’t do an excellent job of dissolving the clog because the liquid chemicals will just sit on top of it, concentrating the chemical reaction on a tiny section of the pipe.
The intense heat may partially melt and deform the pipe if it is made of plastic. Metal pipes are durable, but heat can weaken them, making cracks and leaks more likely in the future.
2) Safety Is The First Priority
Just imagine what drain cleaning chemicals can do to you if they can do that much damage to your pipes. These items’ fumes might irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
Though not all drain cleaners are created equal, some may cause burns if they come into contact with your flesh by accident. Even worse is getting some in your eyes, which is why you should always use safety goggles and minimize splashing while using these items.
3) Estimate The Damaging Cost Earlier
Even if you avoid causing damage to your pipes or jeopardizing your health, a drain cleaner’s effectiveness is never guaranteed. And if a simple hairball or grease accumulation doesn’t cause your clog, a drain cleaner isn’t going to assist.
One of the most significant benefits of hiring a plumber to unclog a drain is the ability to diagnose the problem. Using a liquid drain cleaning is a complete waste of money if there is a break in a pipe enabling additional materials to push inside or if the fundamental reason is deeper in your drainage system.
4) Liquid Cleaner Is Not Suitable For Laundry Clog
Never use liquid cleaners to unclog a drain in your laundry area. This strategy will not work no matter how many drugs you use or how many times you repeat it. Liquid drain cleaners will not dissolve laundry clogs because they are mostly made up of fabric elements.
It is preferable to use enzyme-based drain cleaners if any solid debris is present in a pipe that is causing clogs. In the event of an emergency, you may always call plumbers to remove any interfering material.
Final Thoughts
Chlorine bleach is used in certain liquid drain cleaners. Sinks can occasionally be unclogged with chlorine bleach. However, because chlorine damages or kills the microorganisms in the septic tank that digests the waste, it should never be used as a concentrate.
Sinks and drains that are overflowing will degrade the atmosphere in your home or office. The property or business starts to stink, which detracts from its overall appeal. Clogged leads will detract significantly from the appeal of your home, whether you live there or plan to sell it.
Drainage is a concern since it not only stinks but also causes inhabitants much discomfort. It’s never a pretty sight to see unclean water around the house. As a result, understanding how drain cleaners operate is critical in maintaining a clean home.
