How Drain Cleaners Might Cause More Harm Than Good

3/29/2021 (Permalink)

Drain cleaners can damage your pipes.

Nothing is more annoying than a clogged drain when you are in a rush. It might be tempting to pour a cleaning agent into it and hope for the best, but this can cause more harm than good. Some homeowners find themselves with more plumbing problems than they planned on when using store-bought products to clear a clog.

Drain Cleaners Cause Damage

Unfortunately, sometimes your typical clog remover is one of the worst things you can put down a drain. You do not want to use drain cleaner on:

• Older pipes
• Weak pipes
• Metal pipes
• Pipes that are completely blocked

It can even cause harm when your pipes are new. Most of these cleaners contain caustic chemicals, and if you use them incorrectly, they can cause a leak. This causes water damage, and you will find yourself calling a sewage cleaning company in West Valley City, UT, to fix the problem.
A good rule of thumb is always to read the directions on any drain opener very carefully. The instructions will tell you exactly how to use it on a clogged drain. The majority of cleaners specifically say not to use it when your pipes are completely blocked. Pouring a cleanser down a completely blocked pipe can cause the cleaner to weaken your pipes.

Calling the Professionals

Sometimes it is necessary to call a professional to take care of the problem. A drain clog can be an indicator of a much larger problem. This is particularly true if the problem is in your toilet. Multiple bends could be clogged, and there is a good chance that what you are dealing with is raw sewage. This can be dangerous if you are not wearing the proper protective gear.

Drain cleaners are not always the best solution for dealing with a clog. They can damage your pipes, cause sewage leaks and generally make things worse. A clogged drain doesn't have to be a big deal, but you do need to be careful about what you use to fix it.