Based on years of experience with cleaning drains, here are some reasons you shouldn't rely on liquid drain cleaners:
1. Drain cleaners and toxicity The chemicals in commercial drain cleaners, particularly the off-brand and inexpensive varieties, have high toxicity levels. The fumes aren't healthy to inhale, and will sting and irritate your nose and eyes. These fumes hang around wherever the chemical was used, long after it goes down the drain.
2. Damage to your plumbing pipes The chemicals in drain cleaners can damage pipes while supposedly “cleaning” them. The principle chemical in commercial cleaning solutions is hydrochloric acid. This will not only gnaw at pipes as it sits in them, it will chew off the enamel and other expensive finishes in your kitchen or bathroom.
3. Drain cleaners are bad for plumbing and the earth The chemicals in drain cleaners are not good for the environment. The residue left in bottles ends up in landfills, and can enter the water, poisoning fish and other wildlife.
4. Drain cleaners may not even work. What is causing your drain to clog up? Drains sometimes back up because of trouble in the sewer line, or because of broken pipes. Dumping chemicals down a drain won’t fix these problems
Further more, and likely most important, when those chemicals do not work to clear the clog and you have to call in a service plumber - they may not be able to help you. This chemical standing in your drain is a dangerous situation for them. It damages their equipment and poses a safety risk to themselves. Can you imagine a mechanical rod spinning around in a pipe full of caustic chemical and what that could potentially do?
The best thing for you to remember in these situations is that if you have put chemical down your drain, and then need to call a plumber - PLEASE be honest and tell them, so they can take the proper precautions. It is a very dangerous situation that has sent many service plumbers to the hospital.
If your drain is clogged we have very efficient tools on board to help clear these lines quickly and efficiently... not only that if there is a problem with your drainage system we will be able to tell you what needs to be fixed.
Clogged drains, call your plumber.
519-376-PIPE
Grey-Bruce Plumbing Ltd.
A Service Company.