5 CHEMICAL THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR DRAIN CLEANING?

TYPES OF CHEMICALS THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED WHILE CLEANING DRAIN

• Sodium hydroxide.
• Hydrochloric acid.
• Sulfuric acid. 
• Nitric acid
• Potassium hydroxide

When you have a clogged drain, you want it to be fixed as soon as possible so you can resume your normal routine. It is usually more convenient to go to the store and purchase a liquid drain cleaner. These products claim to have fast cleaning power, which is true, but using a chemical drain cleaner can cost you money. 

Here are the reasons why you should never use chemical drain cleaners on clogged drains.

1. Damages Your Pipelines

Pipes, particularly older ones, can leak at connections or where they are damaged. Large pipes, such as storm water pipes or extremely large sewage mains, are frequently made of concrete, so minor leaks can occur where two pipes meet.

It’s not a big deal when it’s just a little bit of storm water leaking, but if chemicals are also in this water, you’ve just given them a direct path to infecting drinking water! Furthermore, some of the infrastructure is very old, with pipes made of materials such as wooden planks and hollowed-out trees, which will leak.

Disposing of chemicals down drains can cause damage to your plumbing, which can be costly to repair, as well as provide those chemicals with a direct path into groundwater.

2. Severe Health Issues

Some chemicals are said to be cancer and allergy triggers. Because of the mercury content in them, teeth whitening can cause gum irritation and even dental cancer. Errors in the use of soap/detergent can cause skin irritation.

Drain cleaners involve extremely hazardous chemicals that can be harmful to your health if you swallow them, breathe them in (inhale them), or come into contact with your skin or eyes.

Surface runoff and leaching water from pesticide-treated crop fields, as well as hazardous chemicals from industry, can easily enter open drains. As a result, toxic chemicals accumulate in the water flowing down the drain, threatening the survival of nearby residents.

If the polluted water comes into contact with the town’s water supply, for example, it could be contaminated with toxic substances that could cause liver damage, cancer predisposition, birth defects in pregnant women, and developmental disabilities in children.

3. Impacts Environment

The main contributors to ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect are chlorofluorocarbon compounds found in liquid aerosols or spray chemicals. Microorganisms that pollute the environment cannot break down plastic waste and styrofoam. Eutrophication is caused by liquid waste from washing activities. This results in a lot of algae, which turns into organic waste and depletes the oxygen levels in the water.

Plastic bottles end up in landfills or the ocean if they are not recycled. The acid or base could leak out and end up in our drinking water if it isn’t thoroughly washed out before disposal. Furthermore, 100% of the substance you used will either go into your septic tank or the sewage system. These drain cleaners are just as bad as industrial runoff, if not worse!

4. It’s Not Much Effective

Your drain clog may be caused by broken pipes or a clogged sewage tube, and dumping a cleaning agent down the drain won’t help. This is why professional cleaning is often recommended since an experienced plumber would be able to correctly evaluate the problem and recommend the best solution.

Calling a licensed plumber at Everest Drain and Plumbing at (416) 383-7378 to treat your drain clogs is a safer alternative to using chemical cleaners, which can damage your body, plumbing system, and climate. Our professional plumbers can unclog your drains without causing damage to your pipes or putting your family in danger.

5. Corrosion And Fixture Damage

A drain cleaning solution contains chemicals that are strong enough to cut through hair, grease, and other debris. The disadvantage is that they are corrosive and can cause pipe harm. The piping would ultimately need to be replaced if they are used enough over time.

Powerful acids are present in chemical drain cleaning solutions. If some of it gets on the sinks or bathtubs, the enamel-based finish would be ruined. This form of damage necessitates the item’s replacement. It has also been known to dissolve certain metals and leave a void in brass traps.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES FOR DRAIN CLEANING?

1. Baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda is a natural cleansing agent, and vinegar is an acidic compound. Combine these two ingredients and pour them down the clogged drain. The mixture is going to fizz. Allow the mixture to sit for at least one night. Flush the drain with hot water first thing in the morning.

To make it more clear, remove everything from the area around your sink and pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. After that, add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Now close the drain and leave it alone for an hour.

Unplug the drain and pour a pot of boiling water down it after that. Pour boiling water down the drain until the water runs clean.

2. Salt, Borax, and Vinegar

To begin, combine 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour in a pot of boiling water and set aside for at least an hour, or until the liquid clears. Finally, rinse with hot tap water to flush out all of the ingredients.

3. Hot Water and Dish Soap

Get a pot of water to a boil, then add a few tablespoons of dish soap. Then dump the mixture down the drain slowly. The soap will help the clog slide down the drain by liquefying it with the hot water.

4. Plunger

This strategy is best used in the kitchen sink. If food becomes trapped at the bend of the drain under the sink, which is difficult to access with a hook, use a plunger to remove it. Remove any dishes or rags from your sink first.

Plunge into the sink halfway full of warm tap water. A rubber plunger is recommended.

Beneficial Tips

• Grease, oil, banana peels, potato peels, eggshells, bones, pits, and seeds should never be poured down the drain.
• To sharpen the blades in your garbage disposal, put ice cubes in it.
• When the disposal is turned on, run cold water through it.
• Put small citrus or lemon peels in the garbage for a new scent.
• Install a hair trap in the sinks, tubs, and showers of your bathroom.

How Can Everest Drain And Plumbing Help You?

Don’t reach for the easy chemical cleaner if the homemade remedies don’t work. It’s time to contact your nearest drain experts instead of attempting to fix the problem yourself.

All of our plumbers at Everest Drain and Plumbing are experts at unclogging drains, no matter how stubborn they are. We have emergency drain cleaning, transparent pricing, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

CALL (416) 383-7378 FOR AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY PLUMBING SERVICES