If your answer is, “Well… I don’t… I just use store-bought liquid drain cleaner,” then we urge you to read on!
The thing is, using one of these chemical drain cleaners is the worst thing you can do for the health of your plumbing system. It may solve your problem in the short term, but it will only exacerbate the problems you’ll run into later on. Keep reading to learn more about why you shouldn’t use these store-bought “solutions,” and why you should call for professional drain cleaning service instead.
The Harm in Store Bought Drain Cleaners
Have you ever noticed the sheer amount of warning labels plaster onto a bottle of store-bought drain cleaner? They’re present for a reason. Most of these store-bought solutions contain some volatile materials. They’re highly caustic, and while they may eat through whatever is clogging your drain pipe, the damage they’ll cause in the meantime definitely won’t be worth the money.
The thing is, once this store bought drain cleaner eats through a clog, it coats the inside of your drain pipes, where it starts to degrade the plumbing system. Years of using these types of drain cleaners on the pipes will eventually cause leaks to form, and potentially can cause massive problems with your plumbing, causing you to replace portions of your drain system years before you otherwise would have had to. The cost of having your pipes replaced is not worth the benefit of these so-called “convenient” drain cleaners.
Professional Drain Cleaning
If you aren’t supposed to use store-bought drain cleaning solutions, what is the solution to clogged drains? Professional-grade tools, that’s what.
Professional plumbers know that the average store-bought drain cleaner will do far more harm than good, which is why they don’t use this method. Professional drain cleaning involves the use of equipment that’s safe for you and your plumbing system.
For instance, drain snaking is one method we’ve used. This is actually one of the most traditional and popular ways that plumbers clean out stubborn drain clogs. A long cord with an auger on the end is lowered into the pipe until it makes contact with the clog. Then, the auger drills through that clog or latches onto it and pulls it out to free up the drain pipe. This is a fast, easy solution that won’t leave any nasty side effects.
Another increasingly popular method of drain cleaning is hydro-jetting, which uses a high-pressure stream of water to blast away any clogs down in your pipes. This is a very thorough way to clean out your plumbing system, and even prevents clogs from forming as easily in the future, as it scours the pipe walls completely clean.
If you suspect your pipes are clogged up or you’ve been trying to relieve a clog that keeps coming back, please don’t reach for that bottle of drain cleaner under your sink. Instead, contact a trained professional to help!
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.