When a clogged drain interrupts your busy day, you probably want to use the quickest solution and be done with it. While it’s not necessarily a bad idea to try chemical drain cleaners, pipe damage and recurring clogs are real risks to keep in mind. In this guide, we’ll explore which types are safe to use and go over when to call a plumber for a clogged drain.
Before we look at how to clear a clogged drain safely, let’s look at how these chemical drain products actually work. There are three main kinds of chemical drain cleaners, each of which acts a little differently.
Caustic lye (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) drain products are great at breaking down organic matter, such as hair, and even convert grease into soap. One major risk is caustic drain cleaner pipe corrosion, which can happen in pipes made of galvanized steel, copper, and iron, as well as damage to fixtures and fittings. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. Never use them for a completely blocked drain, as they may well remain trapped long enough to do some serious damage.
Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid products are so hazardous that they’re not available on the consumer market. These products are certainly effective (and even dissolve paper along with grease and hair), but in the experience of our team, they’re like putting out a house fire by bulldozing the whole building. As with lye-based products, there’s a risk of personal injury and the slightest error in use turns drain cleaning into a plumbing repair.
Although both alkali (lye) and acid products may come as liquids, the most common type of liquid drain cleaner is based on sodium hypochlorite (bleach) plus various cleaning, caustic, and anti-corrosion agents. They often contain thickening agents so that they sink in standing water. They’re relatively safe and often effective on hair in bathroom sinks and showers, not so much on kitchen sink drain clogs that contain grease. It may take a few tries (and often a whole bottle for a single clog), but they’re easy and convenient.
Even the manufacturers of these products warn users about the dangers of chemical drain cleaners. Products like Drano can damage PVC pipes, while a wrong move when using caustic lye or strong acid could cause a serious injury to the skin, lungs, or eyes. It’s also important not to mix these products with any others (including cleansers and ammonia), as that can result in dangerous chemical reactions.
Chemical rain cleaners are generally not effective on solid obstructions and are harmful to septic tanks. There’s also the possibility that a partially dissolved clog is lodged further down the drain or sewer line. If you do try them as a quick and convenient solution, follow safety precautions and other drain cleaning basics.
Because caustic drain cleaners generate heat while they work, they can pose a serious risk to PVC and other plastic pipes. The immense heat created in this process can be enough to warp, weaken, or even melt your pipes, leading to serious plumbing emergencies that are even harder to deal with than a clogged drain. Always check that your drain cleaner is safe for the pipes used in your home before trying it out.
While you’d be hard-pressed to melt a steel or copper pipe with drain cleaner, these chemicals can cause a different issue: corrosion. Corrosion can weaken your pipes and cause issues over time, and the rough, corroded surface makes future clogs more likely as well.
Drain cleaners contain heavy-duty chemicals designed to eat away at even the toughest clogs. They can be risky to handle, with a potential for serious chemical burns, toxic fumes like chlorine or sulfur dioxide, lung damage if inhaled, and even blindness if it gets into your eyes. If you don’t want to use a safe alternative to chemical drain cleaners, use the utmost caution when handling these products.
All those harsh chemicals going down the drain have to go somewhere, and usually, that ‘somewhere’ is right into your local wastewater system. Depending on the integrity of your plumbing and nearby sewer lines, these chemicals can find their way into aquatic ecosystems or groundwater, which harms wildlife, plants, and the ecosystem as a whole.
Because there are so many risks to chemical drain cleaners (and because they’re often not very effective), we recommend trying safer DIY drain cleaning methods. One option is with a homemade baking soda and vinegar drain cleaner, followed by hot water, which can be surprisingly effective for less serious clogs and a preventative step when done monthly.
One way to avoid harsh and environmentally damaging chemical drain cleaners is with eco-friendly bacterial and enzyme drain cleaners. Rather than relying on acidic or caustic chemicals, these products can digest organic clogs of food waste, oil, grease, starches, and even paper waste. Bio-Drain products use specially-engineered bacteria, which produce enzymes to clear clogs with absolutely no damage to plumbing, even with PVC or epoxy-lined pipes.
When comparing chemical drain cleaners versus enzyme cleaners, it’s important to remember that despite the safety benefits of bio-clean drain products, they take much longer to work than chemical options.
If the problem continues to persist, you can try doing your own drain snaking by renting or purchasing the right equipment. You can also get good results by using a toilet plunger on the drain opening. It’s a strenuous and time-consuming job, and even professionals sometimes struggle to get a drain fully cleared with only mechanical methods.
Because of the intense heat and harsh compounds in chemical drain cleaners, they should never be used in your toilet or garbage disposal. Chemical cleaners can melt PVC pipes connected to your garbage disposal or even crack the porcelain in your toilet, turning a relatively straightforward issue into a sudden plumbing emergency. If your plumbing issue is at risk of getting the best of you, this is when you call a plumber for a clogged drain.
One of the best methods pros use for drain cleaning is hydro jetting, which uses a high-pressure jet of water to blast away clogs without damaging pipes. This usually clears clogs completely and leaves the pipe walls clean, meaning it will be a long time before a clog reforms in that particular drain.
Stuck with a plumbing or drain emergency in San Diego County? Call ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing right now for 24/7 service with a real person, no hidden surcharges, and $75 off your emergency call!
