When the water in the shower starts to form a foot bath, you know it’s time to handle your clogged drain. However, whatever you do, it’s important to avoid store-bought, liquid drain cleaners. While they might seem like an easy, quick fix, consider these three reasons why it’s better to seek help from a professional.

3 Reasons Not to Use Liquid Drain Cleaner

1. They May Eat Away at Your Pipes

To break down the hair, food scraps, and other debris balled up inside your drains, this clog-fighting solution is made with harsh chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid. Essentially, they need to be able to eat through the clog, dissolving it.

Unfortunately, your pipes are not immune to these substances—especially if you live in an older property. What looks like the average cleaning solution on the grocery store shelf might end up eroding your pipes from the inside, causing leaks or breaks down the line.

2. They Might Not Solve the Issue

Depending on what is blocking up your plumbing system, chemical drain cleaners might not do the trick. For example, if a plastic piece from your child’s bath toy or a tangled mix of band-aids is down there, the solution may not be able to break it up. In this case, you’ll have to call a plumber to manually extract the clog.

3. They Are Toxic

Once you pour the drain cleaner into your tub or sink, you’ll have to let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes before following it up with hot water. In that time, the solution will fill the room with toxic fumes, which can endanger pets and children and make it hard for you to breathe.

If you have curious little ones, or if you’re dealing with a respiratory issue, it’s important to keep away from these chemicals at all costs.

To avoid these disadvantages, call on Niebuhr Plumbing & Heating to unclog your drains. This La Crosse, WI, drain cleaner has been serving area customers for over 100 years, so you can trust that their skills are time-tested. Whether a pipe bursts in your basement or your toilet water won’t go down, you can rely on their 24/7 emergency services to come to the rescue. Learn more about their offerings by visiting the website, or call (608) 782-1700 to set up an appointment.