We’ve all done it. Soap scup rings your bathtub drain as the water sluggishly bubbles down your vintage pipes. It’s time for a good dose of Drano and then you can get back to showering without standing in a puddle of your own dirty water. The problem, of course, is when store-bought drain cleaners don’t work. The water may drain a little faster, but you’re still left with murky water that causes soap stains and slippery surfaces. You go for another bottle to clear that clogged drain.
This is where a professional will tell you to put the bottle down and seek help. While drain cleaner is a quick solution, it can be compared to taking too much aspirin for a headache. It’s a great short-term solution, but if you take too much too often, it can ultimately cause long-term health effects. Drain cleaners can cause the same issue, only with your pipes. If you find that you are battling clogs every couple of months, it could be an indication that there is a deeper problem in your pipes, and it’s time to seek professional help.
How Too Much Drain Cleaner Can Hurt Your Pipes
Sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye, is the main ingredient in many drain un-cloggers and is known for its ability to decompose organic matter. Because the lye is mixed with tiny pieces of aluminum, the reaction generates intense clog-blasting heat. Heat + Gunk Disintegration sounds a little like a magic potion that eliminates unwanted drain obstructions, which is almost exactly right. However, such a strong chemical will not leave your pipes unscathed.
Drain cleaners can erode the interior of your metal pipes and cause them to soften until they eventually fracture. It can even crack toilet bowls! And while a pipe can withstand one or two doses, the moldings and glue holding your plumbing together may not be so lucky. If you have plastic pipes, drain cleaners can cause another issue: too much heat. Drain cleaners, such as Drano, can reach near-boiling temperatures after the aluminum reacts with lye. Temperatures over 140 degrees can weaken a PVC pipe, leading to unexpected, expensive repairs.
Like the human body is filled with good and bad bacteria, so are your pipes and drains. The good bacteria break down organic matter without dangerous chemicals. When you use chemicals, you kill the good with the bad and you will be more likely to experience a clog in the future.
Dangerous for You and Plumbers
You should never attempt to add a chemical solution to standing water. As dangerous and toxic as drain cleaners are, they don’t always work. And when they don’t work, they turn whatever solution in which they’re mixed into a toxic sludge-bath that is difficult to remove.
Not only can these products cause physical burns, but they can also release lethal toxic fumes if they come into contact with other household chemicals. If your drain cleaner doesn’t work the first time, you should never try to mix it with another solution in the hopes that all you need is a little more biochemical assistance.
In the event you’ve used Drano, Liquid Plumber, or a similar drain cleaner, make sure to inform your plumber immediately before he or she begins working on the drains. If the solution has pooled in the pipes, it could splash and cause serious burns to their skin and eyes. Be aware that if you need work completed and you’ve recently used Drano, your technician will likely have to add a diffuser, such as baking soda, and wait at least 24 hours before starting the project.
Carl Bourgeois, a second-generation plumber from Al Bourgeois Plumbing has seen the dangers of unchecked drain cleaners firsthand. “I have had employees burned badly by some of these chemicals,” he says. “Please look closely at the contents before deciding to use these products. The advertisements we see on television that quickly whisk away the clog are just not reality. Drain cleaners may improve the drainage but they seldom completely eliminate your problem.”
Call Al Bourgeois Plumbing!
Do you have a persistent clog that just won’t go away? You’re in luck! Al Bourgeois Plumbing has been helping the Greater New Orleans area keep its drains clean for over 50 years! Our expert technicians will be able to identify the source of the problem and keep your drains healthy for generations to come.
