Plumbers are baffled that homeowners still buy chemical drain cleaners. They don’t work, can make a clog worse or damage your pipes, and are very dangerous to have around the house.
Share this Image On Your Site
Please include attribution to Smart Choice Plumbing with this graphic.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Don’t Work
- Drain cleaners need to be applied directly to the clog to work & you usually can’t reach clogs
- They will eat away at the debris on the side of your pipes before the clog, making the clog worse
- Not all plumbing issues are caused by clogs, and chemical drain cleaners can be dangerous if you have a leak
Damage from Liquid Drain Cleaners
- Drain cleaners corrode pipes and pipe sealant, weakening them and potentially causing leaks, eventually leading to needing a repipe.
- They corrode other nearby fixtures, like tiles and sinks, which may discolor or damage them
- Alkaline drain cleaners create heat, which can warp metal and PVC pipes and harm sealant
Drain Cleaner Safety Hazards
- Drain cleaners may create dangerous vapors if it is mixed with other chemicals
- Drain cleaners may explode when exposed to cleaning products, or even water
- Drain cleaners may kill the beneficial, necessary bacteria in your septic system
Exposure to Chemical Drain Cleaners
- If swallowed, all kinds of drain cleaners can be deadly, especially to children and infants
- Drain cleaners can burn skin, lungs and eyes, even causing permanent injury & blindness
- If you spill chemical drain cleaner on your clothing, carpet, or furniture, it can discolor or destroy the fabric
Bad for the Environment
- Can poison beneficial bacteria if it ends up in landfills, your soil, or local rivers
- Can poison fish and lead to bio-accumulation of harsh chemicals in the ecosystem
- Any packaging used for drain cleaners is non-recyclable and ends up in landfills
By: Smart Choice Plumbing – SmartChoice.Plumbing