Clogged drains can be frustrating and annoying. When drains clog, many homeowners act in haste, pouring chemicals down them in a desperate attempt to unclog them. This is the one mistake you don’t want to make.
Pouring chemicals down your drain seems to be a pretty easy fix. However, chemicals can cause more harm than good. Caustic or alkaline drain cleaning chemicals can seriously damage your pipes, causing many problems.
At Small Jobs Plumbing Inc., our roto rooting and drain-clearing specialists have years of experience fixing damage and truly clearing drains once and for all for homeowners. While the chemicals can be tempting, when your home’s drains are having difficulties, call your trusted Petaluma plumbing pros at (707) 908-8003.
Here are just a few of the reasons why you should avoid the use of chemical drain cleaning in your home.
They Are Toxic
Many drain cleaners contain a cocktail of chemicals and can give off toxic fumes. Exposure to toxic fumes can cause a number of health problems, such as respiratory issues and skin irritation.
Many drain cleaners contain hydrochloric acid. Exposure to low concentrations of hydrochloric acid can cause erythema or superficial reddening of the skin. If you accidentally splash a few drops of a drain cleaner containing hydrochloric acid on your skin, it could get severely burnt.
They Are Bad For the Environment
Chemicals in drain cleaners can stick to the walls of empty drain cleaner bottles used to hold them. When these empty bottles end up in landfills, chemical residue can contribute to environmental damage. The chemicals in a drain cleaner can get in your water supply and eventually end up in nearby water bodies, polluting them.
They Can Cause Clogs to Worsen
More often than not, drain cleaners effectively remove soap scum, hair, and gunk, but they can sometimes fail, leading to serious problems.
Chemicals Can Damage Your Plumbing
Hydrochloric acid – a key ingredient in many caustic chemical drain cleaners – can erode your pipes, especially older pipes and PVC pipes. You won’t notice the damage to your pipes immediately, but your metal pipes may develop leaks over time, and your PVC pipes may become soft.
The chemicals in drain cleaners can react with each other, damaging your plumbing system. The heat released during chemical reactions when pouring chemicals down your drain can damage your pipes. As a result, they may fail prematurely.
Alternatives to Chemical Drain Cleaners – Call a Professional
A drain cleaning service provider can help you fix stubborn draining correctly. With their specialized tools, Small Jobs Plumbing Inc. clears clogged drains and alleviates drainage issues for homes and businesses of all sizes.
Small Jobs Plumbing Inc. offers a wide range of drain cleaning services in Petaluma.To schedule a whole-house plumbing inspection, call 707-908-8003.