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When homeowners experience a plumbing clog, they often turn to drain cleaning chemicals to bust through the debris. Unfortunately, these mixes can damage your pipes and have costly consequences. Here’s some insight into what these cleaners are and why you should avoid them.

A Guide to Chemical Drain Cleaners

How Chemical Drain Cleaners Work

You can purchase chemical drain cleaning solutions in gel, liquid, crystal, and powder forms. The instructions usually say to pour the mix into the drain and let it sit before flushing it with hot water. These mixes often contain peroxide, bleach, ammonia, caustic potash, or lye, all of which are highly toxic.

The chemicals can bust through clogs like balled up hair or organic matter by eating away at them. You must wear gloves and have proper ventilation when using these products, or you may experience skin burns or poisoning.

How They Can Harm the Plumbing

drain cleaning Gage County NESince these drain cleaning solutions are so powerful, they can damage the plumbing. Using a bleach product once on older pipes could cause corrosion that creates a leak and the need for new pipes. Older pipes and those with material like PVC are more likely to incur damage from drain cleaning chemicals. However, even if your pipes are newer and metal, they may be at risk of breaking down from the repeated use of these toxic chemicals. 

Relying on chemical drain cleaners can slowly eat away at the pipes over time. Additionally, if you use these mixes and the clog doesn’t go away, the chemicals will sit in the pipes until the debris clears. Often, this worsens the condition because of prolonged exposure to the cleaner. A plumber can use a camera, snake, and other necessary tools to address drain clogs without harming the plumbing.

 

If you have a plumbing clog, contact Wrightsman Plumbing Heating & Cooling Inc in Beatrice, NE. With 50 years of experience with plumbing and HVAC services, this reliable team offers sewer and drain cleaning with a sewer camera to ensure they know the root of the issue before deciding how to save your pipes and fixtures. Call (402) 228-3100 for a free estimate or visit the website for more information. 

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