Many people have questions about chemical clog removers. Do chemical drain cleaners work? Are these products safe? The convenience of chemical clog removers is very tempting, but these questions are definitely something you should think about before heading to the store for a bottle.
Here are a few things you should know before purchasing these products.
Toxicity Levels
Drain cleaners are notorious for having high levels of toxicity. Even the labels on the products warn you not to get it on your hands or inhale the fumes.
Take the popular clog remover Drano, for example. It earns an F rating from the Environmental Working Group, an organization that promotes healthy cleaning products that are good for the environment. This is because it contains sodium hydroxide, which can cause skin irritation, allergies, or damage. It also has sodium hypochlorite and surfactants, which can produce acute aquatic toxicity and have negative respiratory effects.
Potential to Damage Pipes
Because the chemicals used in these clog removers are so potent, they can actually damage your pipes. Many of the ingredients are acidic, which can eat away not only the dirt or hair that's clogging things up, but the pipe itself.
Even if the pipe isn't damaged, just think of what the cleaner will do to your sink or bathtub. Even a little splash of liquid on the enamel, and it might wear away the finish.
Long-term Effectiveness
Using a chemical clog cleaner to clear up a particularly stubborn backup is convenient - but is it really fixing the problem? Often, clogs are a sign of a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.
Unless you address this issue, you'll have to keep using these chemical cleaners numerous times in a short period. Just think of the toll that will take on your health, your pipes, and the environment.
Other Ways to Unclog Pipes
Clearly chemical clog removers aren't your best option. What else you can do to fix clogs?
- Try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar after pouring boiling hot water down the drain.
- Play with a plunger to see if you can remove any debris that's stuck in the pipe.
- Grab a long wire hook, like an old coat hanger, and slowly insert the hook into the drain to grab the gunk that's causing the clog.
These are just a few alternatives, but there are plenty more options if they don't work. One of your best options is to simply give David Gray Plumbing Services a call. We offer professional sewer and drain cleaning to eliminate your clogs for good.