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Think Twice About Liquid Chemical Drain Cleaners

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Melbourne Plumber

The liquid chemical drain cleaner has been around for some time. We have all seen the commercials. Pour in the liquid or the gel and the clog goes away in minutes. This may be true some of the time but what exactly is going on when you use these products?

Firstly, we cannot overstate how dangerous these chemicals are to have around the house, especially when you have kids or pets. They are highly corrosive and will kill skin on contact. With that said, what else are they harming?

Your pipes may be permanently damaged by the DIY chemicals. The corrosive nature of these chemicals will affect pipes. Even the ones that say “safe for your pipes” may be harmful.

If you are going to give it a shot yourself, choose an all-natural enzyme drain cleaner. These products are effective against organic materials and are not capable of hurting the materiel from which your drainage pipes are made.

If your drain is slow and you want to open it up a bit try these easy remedies:

1. Hot water – Pour a container of very hot water (not quite boiling) down the drain. Wait 15 seconds and then run some cold water through it. If your clog was being causes by waxy material it should clear away. Repeat if necessary.
2. Baking soda and vinegar – Dump a half cup of baking soda down your drain. Follow it with a half cup of vinegar. Plug the drain and let it sit overnight. In the morning run hot water through it.

If these solutions don’t work and you fear that you have a very thick clog, call a professional who can snake your drain.