It’s been a few days now and the sink just won’t drain. Now the foul odour of everything that’s backed up is taking over the kitchen. It’s time to do something. You might consider using chemical drain cleaners—but there are several reasons why you might want to consider a safer and more effective method of unclogging your drain.
Chemical drain cleaners are highly toxic
They’ve been developed to take on some of the worst clogs and that’s why chemical drain cleaners are made with an array of toxic ingredients, some of which include:
- Sulfuric acid
- Hydrochloric acid
- Sodium hydroxide
- Bleach
As these cleaners are exposed to oxygen and released into your pipes, they put you at risk of exposure to irritating fumes and even burns.
They’re harmful to the environment
If a cleaner can cause a reaction that could dissolve weeks of sink muck down the drain, imagine what those acids and the bleach will do to aquatic life in the water stream or the groundwater and soil near your home if you use a septic tank.
They’re poisonous to children and pets
Noxious fumes and chemicals can cause irritations and illness simply from exposure, but if your curious toddler or the family dog gets into one of these containers, the results could be potentially deadly.
They can damage your pipes
It might be surprising but it’s true: chemical drain cleaners are powerful enough to cut through a pipe’s protective layers, especially on PVC pipes, which are common in many Lower Mainland homes. Now your pipes are at risk of corrosion, leaking and much bigger problems.
That’s the damage that you can’t see. What you can see is how these cleaners eat away at the finishes of the fixtures on your sink or bathtub. Since that kind of damage is not easily repaired, it often means you have to replace the fixtures.
They don’t always work
The noxious fumes. The risk of corrosion and the health of your family members. Even if you get through all that, there’s still a good chance those chemical cleaners won’t be able to solve a major clog. Or they could work for a few days but then you’re back to where you started with the same problem: a clogged drain.
Rely on the experts
Clogged drains are often caused by underlying issues that need to be addressed. A professional plumber is trained to diagnose the source of your clog and perform drain cleaning services while maintaining the integrity of your pipes and the safety of your home. Even the ever-popular DoItYourself.Com site suggests chemical drain cleaners are one DIY don’t.
The trusted plumbing experts at Tap 2 Drain have been helping Lower Mainland residents and businesses unclog and protect their pipes since 2007. If you’ve got clogged drains, we’ve got a technician who can help. Get in touch!