Occasional yet regular cleaning of your drains is important to not just remove potential build ups that can be forming on the inner pipe walls, but also to help prevent any damage to the drain system over time.
Major clogs can be a costly and frustrating issue to deal with. By staying on top of regular maintenance, you can reduce or even eliminate the potential for major clogs to happen.
Many individuals will reach for the strong chemical drain cleaners, but these can not only cause additional issues in your pipes and septic system, but can also be physically dangerous to you and any pets in your home.
Instead of turning to harsh chemicals, consider using alternatives such as home remedies including a baking soda and vinegar mixture, or an enzyme drain cleaner.
What is an Enzyme Drain Cleaner?
Enzyme drain cleaners do not contain extremely dangerous or harsh chemicals. Instead, they use bacterial cultures that will seek out and start digesting organic matter in the drain. This includes clogs of hair or food particles, general build-up along the pipe walls, and even certain fungal growths forming in the pipes.
Enzyme cleaners are an outstanding option for drains that may be prone to drain flies or worms, as well as any areas that have mold or mildew forming. Bathrooms are a very common place to make use of enzyme drain cleaners, but kitchen drains and garbage disposals can benefit greatly as well.
How Does Enzyme Cleaning Work?
The bacterial cultures in enzyme cleaners are “good bacteria.” They won’t cause diseases or make your family sick. In fact, the bacteria contained in enzyme cleaners is much safer than commercial chemical drain cleaners found in any department store.
Once these bacteria cultures are poured into the drain or onto a clog, they start working by targeting the organic materials. This could be food a garbage disposal didn’t properly break down, or hair and dead skin cells in a shower or bathtub drain.
The bacteria use this organic matter as a food source. When left on the clog or in the pipes for enough time, the bacteria will not only feed on the clogs but will multiply as well. In general, most enzyme cleaners are best left overnight to deal with a clog, but some cleaners can show results in as little as 15 minutes.
What are the Pros and Cons?
Enzyme cleaners are not the best option for clogs that completely block the flow of water. They can handle minor clogs and are excellent at removing build up along the inside walls of the pipe, however.
They’re also an excellent choice on plumbing systems that can’t handle harsh chemicals. Enzyme cleaners are also considerably cheaper in the long run, which makes them a great choice for long-term maintenance and upkeep of your plumbing system.
The biggest downside is the cleaning speed. Enzyme cleaner bacteria need plenty of time to work, sometimes several hours or overnight.
