Why We’d Advise You Against Using Liquid Drain Cleaners to Clear Clogged Drains

A lot of folks have been sold on the notion that most clogged drains can be cleared using a liquid drain cleaner. This is understandable, since liquid drain cleaners appeal to many people’s DIY tendencies as well as dovetailing with the modern idea that there must be an easier way to do just about everything. Unfortunately many things simply don’t play along with that notion; like plumbing.

The “Drains” in “Clogged Drains” Need to be Respected

There are many good reasons to take a pass on liquid drain cleaners. Here are four we consider to be at the top of the list.

1. Poison – Basically, liquid drain cleaners attempt to substitute poisonous chemicals for technical know-how and experience. As such, chemical drain cleaners are among the most toxic products you can have in your home. You don’t want these products anywhere near young children or even pets.
2. Long Term Damage to Your Pipes – Liquid drain cleaners have little respect for the “drain” in “clogged drain.” Since they do their work out of sight, they count on you going “wow” if the drain is cleared, knowing that you won’t be able to see the damage the chemicals have done to the inside of your pipes.
3. Environmentally Irresponsible – What happens to the chemicals you put down your drain? They don’t just disappear. They either go into your septic tank and kill the beneficial bacteria there or are flushed into the city’s drainage system and wind up in local rivers and lakes.
4. They Often Don’t Work – Sometimes the problem is not a clog but a break or an obstruction further down the line. If that’s the case you’ll just be dumping hazardous chemicals into your plumbing system for no reason.

Keep in mind also that the fumes created by lye-based drain cleaners are hazardous to your health and that under no circumstances should you ever attempt to clear a clogged toilet with a bottled drain cleaner. The chemicals could do irreparable harm to the porcelain causing it to shatter.

Liquid drain cleaners take an “out of sight out of mind” approach, which is fine until the damage they do results in repairs that create an “out of sight” bill.

If your drain is clogged, call the experts at New Canadian Drain and Plumbing on (416) 651-2990. We’ll get to the heart of the problem quickly and have your clogged drains flowing properly again in no time.