When you have a clogged drain, it’s so tempting to head to the store to purchase a drain cleaner. After all, for just a few bucks, you can grab a bottle of Drano®, and after a few minutes, you’ll have a clog-free drain. Voila. However, things aren’t that simple. These kinds of chemical drain cleaners come with a litany of problems. So next time you have a drain clog, call a plumber.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes
Chemical drain cleaners are made of powerful chemicals that dissolve all sorts of materials. As such, they can actually corrode the pipes in your home. With a few applications, your chemical drain cleaner can leave your pipes leaking, and that can cause extensive damage to your home. You’ll have a huge mess on your hands, and a costly repair on the way. Instead of pouring a chemical cleaner on the problem, have a professional jet or snake your pipes. You’ll maintain the integrity of your drainage system, and you won’t have to shell out thousands in repairs.
Renters Beware!
Now, you may be thinking: I’m just renting my home, I don’t care about the pipes. Well, you should! Renters may actually be liable for damaging the pipes in their home! It’s true! If you throw a chemical product down the drain and cause corrosion, you could be forced to pay damages to your landlord. So if you have a clogged drain, think twice before reaching for the convenient chemical route. Instead, give your landlord a call, explain the situation, and have the landlord fix the problem. Depending on your lease contract, your landlord may have to pay for repairs themselves. Not sure where the liability lies for your home’s pipes? Do some research. FreeAdvice sums up renter/landlord plumbing liability in their article, Landlord’s Duty to Maintain Pipes and Plumbing:
“The determining factor will be the legal decisions in the state, which help determine where exactly that line between liability and non-liability fall. Different states have differing attitudes…sometimes favoring landlords, sometimes favoring renters. In all cases, the landlord would have to repair the pipes, but whether he or she is responsible for damages will depend on whether he or she was negligent—which in turn depends in large part on where that line has been drawn in the state in question.”
Be sure to review your lease and state laws surrounding renter’s rights.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Don’t Work for Every Pipe
Most chemical cleaners only work on tubs, showers, and sinks—not toilets. So, if your toilet does have a clog that a plunger can’t fix, a chemical drain cleaner won’t even be an option. You’ll have to give your plumber a call. Be sure to give the ol’ plunger a try though, most clogs can be cleared with a few well-placed plunges. If, however, an obstruction has been flushed down the toilet (e.g. a kid’s toy, hygiene products, massive wads of toilet paper, etc.), you’ll have to bring in a professional.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Toxic
They sure are. Chemical drain cleaners are made of some of the most toxic stuff on the planet. They’re a hazard in a bottle. If you have kids or pets, it’s simply best to keep chemical drain cleaners out of the house or locked away in a very child-proof safe. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the label on a chemical drain cleaner. It’ll be loaded to the brim with hazardous chemical warnings. Having your pipes jetted, on the other hand, poses no threat to you and yours.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Bad for the Environment
Most chemical drain cleaners are made out of man made chemicals. Producing these chemicals takes energy, and that’s taxing on the environment as is. Beyond that, utilizing chemical drain cleaners means that you’re pouring toxic sludge down the drain. Now, most wastewater in America makes its way from our homes to treatment facilities, but drainage infrastructure isn’t perfect. Some wastewater can end up in lakes and rivers, and eventually it may make its course to the ocean. That can be damaging to the environment, and it can kill off plants and animals along the way. Protect the environment; call a plumber.
The Better Option
Once again, it’s tempting to make a two minute drive to get a chemical drain cleaner from your local grocer. It’s a quick fix. However, it’s simply not the best option at your disposal (pun intended). Instead, hire a pro. Professional clog clearing is safer, less impactful on the environment, and more effective. Plus, while we’re working on your drains, we can inspect the integrity of your drains with a sewer cam, so that you can rest assured that your drains are clear and your pipes will last for years to come. If you have a clog and you live in Addison, Elmhurst, Carol Stream, Wheaton, Winfield, Lakewood, Wayne, Keeneyville, or Bloomingdale call on InSink Plumbing, your local plumbers.
