Why You Should Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Clogged drains are a common issue for homeowners, but when they can’t be resolved, it’s not uncommon to reach for chemical drain cleaning solutions. Unfortunately, the convenience of these products comes with significant drawbacks and risks, making alternative methods and professional intervention a wiser choice.

Get our pro tips for drain cleaning to keep your plumbing in good working order. Or call the team at Petri Plumbing for professional drain cleaning in Brooklyn and beyond to get your home back on track.

The Downside of Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners are a popular choice for their promised quick fixes but they actually come with hidden risks.

1) They are bad for the environment

These types of products contain harsh chemicals such as sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium nitrate, and aluminum. These hazardous chemicals and can wreak havoc and contribute to pollution that ends up in municipal sewer systems or septic tanks. These chemicals aren’t always fully removed during the water treatment process and can pose a public risk.

2) They are harmful to humans and animals

Chemical drain cleaners pose significant health risks to you and your family. The exothermic reaction to drain cleaners can lead to severe burns, skin damage, and even blindness upon accidental contact. They’re especially dangerous in homes with small children or individuals with respiratory issues or compromised immune systems. The chemical fumes can be toxic when inhaled and lead to long-lasting illness.

Furthermore, wild animals may end up drinking small doses of the toxic mixture once it ends up in the watershed.

3) They can hurt your pipes

Depending on why type of pipes you have, some chemicals may cause your pipes to corrode. The intense heat generated can compromise the integrity of your pipes, accelerating deterioration and increasing the likelihood of leaks. Even if they don’t corrode where the chemicals are located in the pipes, it may cause damage further down the line, resulting in larger sewer line problems.

4) They aren’t all that effective

While they may open up a small hole in the clog, chemical drain cleaners aren’t all that great about getting rid of the entire clog. If the clog keeps returning, it’s better to call a plumber and get the whole clog removed and the pipe cleared so that the clog doesn’t keep building back up on the leftover debris.

Eco-Friendly Maintenance Options

1) Baking Soda & Vinegar

You can take a gentler, DIY approach to drain cleaning with homemade mixtures like hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. A popular go-to solution, this mixture is also a good pick for regular maintenance and avoids the harsh impact of chemical cleaners. These types of bio-based products also offer an environmentally friendly alternative by utilizing natural bacteria to break down organic waste without harming your pipes or the environment.

2) Plunger

Sometimes a good plunger and boiling water can also do the trick to unclog drains. But if your clogs are persistent, stubborn, or reoccurring, you may have a more serious issue going on.

3) Natural Enzymes

At Petri, we recommend that homeowners use drain cleaners that rely on natural enzymes. The enzymes break down organic debris like food particles, hair and mold so they can be flushed down the pipes. And, they are safer for your pipes. The only issue with these products is that they may not work as quickly as their chemical counterparts.

When to Call a Certified Plumber for Drain Cleaning

Preventive measures and mild cleaning solutions can handle minor clogs, but more severe blockages need a professional. Professional plumbers typically shun chemical solutions in favor of mechanical methods like plumbing snakes and commercial-grade equipment.

Plumbing snakes can often navigate through your plumbing to dislodge clogs directly and they are usually a more thorough and less hazardous solution. Unlike chemical cleaners that often provide only temporary relief by clearing a small portion of the blockage, a plumbing snake addresses the entire clog, ensuring a lasting resolution.

Serious clogs mean you could have an issue with your sewer line or septic tank, which can be inspected with one of our video sewer inspections. If needed, we can clean out your sewer, fix your sewer line, deal with any hidden plumbing issues, and get your house back on track. Relying on harsh chemical cleaners won’t touch these issues and could ruin your plumbing.

Call Petri Plumbing for all Your Brooklyn Drain Cleaning Needs

Whatever is going on with your drains, the team at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Drain Cleaning will figure out the root of the problem and get solved using our commercial-grade tools, environmentally-friendly green cleaners, and our other resources.

We deal with stubborn clogs and messy drains all the time and can handle any issue, no matter how complicated it may seem.

Our Brooklyn plumbers are here to meet all of your drain cleaning needs, so call us today!