The Truth About Drain Cleaning Solutions and Methods

Clearing minor clogs and buildups in drains can be done effectively with drain cleaners, but they come with certain risks attached. They're dangerous to our health. They're dangerous to plumbing. They're dangerous to the environment. Why use them at all, then? Because sometimes, using them is just easier. If you want to get an unpleasant job done quickly, pour a thick liquid down your plumbing and hope for the best.

Plumbers do not recommend using Drano because it contains strong chemicals that can seriously harm your plumbing—especially older pipes or those made of PVC. The heat generated during the chemical reaction can soften and warp plastic pipes, leading to leaks or bursts. And if the clog isn't cleared, the Drano can sit in the pipes doing more damage over time. It's also pretty hazardous stuff. Your skin won't like it, and you definitely don't want to inhale the fumes. Finally, using Drano may be a hazard to plumbers. If they have to work on the pipes that had the Drano in them, they may be exposed to harmful residue that can make them sick.

Drain cleaners that are not made with chemicals are the preferred choice of most plumbers. They advocate for using alternatives that are less harmful to the environment and the home's plumbing system. Recommended methods to use when a drain is slow or nearly clogged include the following: - Plunging the drain - Snaking the drain - Asking for help from a pro

Usually, professional plumbers opt for either sodium hydroxide (lye) or sulfuric acid when using a drain cleaning product. These classic chemicals are very good at breaking down clogs that the average person wouldn't want to tackle themselves. However, an expert doesn't always have to reach for the heavy-hitting stuff. There are plenty of safe, effective drain-cleaning alternatives out there these days, including enzyme-based products that work a bit slower but are friendlier to the environment.

Baking soda and vinegar can potentially harm pipes, particularly if used often or in large quantities. The combination of these two common household items produces a fizzing action that may assist unclogging certain types of drains, but the upward of a modest 40 psi force that comes with the fizzing alone could place a significant amount of pressure on old or weak pipes (drains that are already half-filled with water, for instance). And if your drain is made of materials like cast iron, PVC, or rubber, the pressure combined with the chemical reaction could be eating away at your pipes. Use it sparingly, if at all, and certainly not as a first-line solution for a stubbornly clogged drain.

Pipes can be harmed by chemical drain cleaners. They often include strong corrosive agents that can eat away at certain pipe materials, especially older metal pipes. Additionally, if you tend to reach for the drain cleaner every time a drain is running slow, you could actually be making your pipes more susceptible to clogging. That's because these cleaners can also leave behind a residue that might bind with the next unwelcome visitor in the pipe, like hair.

Baking soda and vinegar react to form water and carbon dioxide, which might help dislodge minor clogs in your pipes. The problem is, if you have a serious blockage, this reaction isn't going to be effective. And in some cases, it could even compact the clog more, making it even more difficult for your water to flow through. If the blockage is made of grease, for instance, it becomes soap scum, which is used to clean stubborn blocks of grease. The problem with grease is that when it hardens, performing an act of penance for the no-fail cleaning task, it becomes a phenolic compound, which is used to create clean shampoo for your dogs and strong dish soap.

One of the most effective cleaners for blocked drains is a combination of vinegar and baking soda. To make this powerful, natural drain cleaner, pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. The vinegar-baking soda combination will fizz and bubble and work very hard on any clogs in your drain. Allow the fizzing to do its work for 15 minutes. Afterward, flush the drain with boiling water to back the cleaner's efforts. This combination of vinegar and baking soda, which you pour into your sink or any drain, is both safe for the environment and much cheaper than commercial drain cleaners.

Generally, it is not recommended to pour boiling water down the drain for all types of plumbing. In metal pipes, it might help in breaking down some clogs, but it can potentially damage PVC pipes or cause seals and joints to weaken. Always ensure that your plumbing system can handle the high temperature before making boiling water your method of choice.

Certainly! Dawn dish soap and baking soda can assist in clearing clogged drains. When the two are combined, they create a foamy action that can break down clogs and loosen debris within the drain. Generally, this is a safe method to use on most types of plumbing. Adding hot water after the combination has been poured down the drain can also help in washing away the debris. However, if a clog is particularly stubborn, it might be necessary to resort to more specialized methods of drain cleaning or to consult a professional plumber.