If you’re a homeowner, then you’ve probably had to deal with a poorly-functioning kitchen or bathroom sink drain on more than one occasion. Whether your sink seems to be draining slowly this time or simply isn’t draining at all, the situation can be extremely unpleasant and frustrating. While your initial inclination might be to head over to your cleaning supplies cabinet and whip out a drain cleaner to rid you of your problem, pouring chemicals down your drain is actually a bad idea.
Daniel Fish is the proud owner of Daniel Fish Plumbing, a business that has been serving California’s Los Angeles and Ventura counties since 1981, and according to him, most people don’t realize that the majority of drain cleaners on the market are either ineffective in removing clogs or simply dangerous to work with. The problem with many household drain cleaners is that they won’t actually work to rid pipes of grease, which is a common source of moderate to severe clogs. Since outer grease surfaces are often layered with calcification that can’t be penetrated with such cleaners alone, most of the drain-cleaning products you’ll see on the shelves are actually nothing but a waste of money.
While certain drain-cleaning products can be rather useless in tackling clogs, Fish warns that others are downright hazardous. Sulfuric acid, for example, is a chemical that is capable of seeping into and degrading older metal pipes. It can also result in an unfavorable heat reaction, which, in the best-case scenario, could end up melting one’s pipes; the worst-case scenario, on the other hand, could involve an actual explosion that might seriously injure somebody in the process.
Not only can the use of chemicals cause pipe damage, it can actually end up contaminating your water supply and posing a health risk in the process. Another thing to realize about drain-cleaning chemicals is that they are just plain hazardous to handle and inhale. In fact, women who are pregnant are often advised to steer clear of such products to protect their unborn children – a fact that, according to Fish, basically speaks for itself.
So then what should you do if you happen to come across a clogged or poorly-functioning drain? Fish advises that if you do need to pour something down the drain to get it to unclog, then try using boiling water. If you know what you’re doing, you could also try using a snake to clear out the problem rather than attack it with chemicals. However, if those tactics don’t work, then the best idea is to call in an experienced plumber to unclog your drain for you. While the notion of paying for such services might seem frustrating at best, consider the fact that the cost of repairing damages caused by common drain cleaners can be far more expensive than a plumber’s drain-unclogging fee.
Remember, as much as that $5 bottle of seemingly-safe and useful chemicals might appear to be a bargain, it is unlikely to live up to its advertised potential and will probably only end up making your situation worse. So the next time you’re faced with a clogged drain, make sure to think before you pour.
