Can drain unblocker melt pipes

When confronted with a clogged drain, reaching for a drain cleaner is often the immediate reaction for homeowners. Drain cleaners promise a quick fix, dissolving the obstruction and restoring the flow. However, not all clogs are created equal, and not every drain cleaner is up to the task. Here’s a deep dive with information from drain cleaning specialists Rider Drains on how certain drain cleaners can be more of a foe than a friend to your plumbing system. 

People want to deal with a clogged drain quickly and effectively

Clogs are the unseen menace lurking in the drain lines, often a medley of hair and soap scum, grease or flushed toilet paper. A clogged drain can range from minor annoyances to severe blockages, disrupting the daily flow of waste water in homes and commercial spaces.

Drain Cleaner: A Helping Hand You Can Trust?

Drain cleaners are the go-to solution for many, but do they solve the problem or invite more harm? The chemicals in many drain cleaners react with the materials in pipes, especially old metal pipes or plastic pipes, causing them to corrode or, in extreme cases, melt.

While these items are effective in removing grease, the chemicals might lead to bigger problems with your drains than you initially dealt with.

Be Cautious With Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners, particularly caustic drain cleaners, are the most common culprits behind damaged pipes. These cleaners, containing harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), generate heat through a chemical reaction with the clog. This heat can deform plastic pipes and corrode old metal pipes, exacerbating the issue.

What Are The Issues With A Liquid Drain Cleaner?

Liquid drain cleaners are a popular choice due to their ease of use. Pouring the specified amount of liquid drain cleaner down the sink drain seems straightforward but can lead to serious injury or environmental damage if misused. The heat generated by the chemical reactions can, as previously mentioned, damage pipes and even cause broken pipes in severe cases.

In this regard, it is easy to see why a liquid cleaner is as questionable as a chemical drain cleaner or caustic drain cleaner. Not every fast result is worthwhile if it causes more problems and financial outlay in the long term, which is why you need to be cautious when clearing out drain lines.

Considering Caustic Drain Cleaners

Caustic drain cleaners, a subtype of chemical drain cleaners, are notorious for their adverse effects on plumbing pipes. While effective against organic materials, their high pH can cause corrosion in metal pipes, including iron pipes, and deform plastic pipes.

Here, you should only use caustic cleaners as a final resort, and even then, the impact of clogged pipes might be preferable to dealing with dissolved plumbing pipes!

Alternative Solutions: Safety First

For safety reasons, considering alternative solutions to clearing clogs is prudent. Baking soda and white vinegar, when used together, can safely clear slow drains without the risk of damaging your plumbing system.

Be Hands On With A Plunger Rather Than Chemicals

Furthermore, physical interventions such as a plumbing snake or a simple plunger can also be effective, especially for tough clogs.

Is A Homemade Drain Cleaner A Safer Bet?

A homemade mixture of a half cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar can be a potent solution against minor clogs. Pour the baking soda and vinegar mixture, wait for an hour, and then follow up with hot (not boiling) water to clear the clog.

Should You Use A Wire Hanger?

If you prefer a truly homemade way to unblock clogged drains, but don't want to risk using hot water, you can use products like a drain snake or a clothes hanger. The problem with the latter is these might damage your plumbing pipes, making them as questionable a choice as a chemical drain cleaner or sodium hydroxide cleaning solution.

Should You Choose A Professional Plumber To Clean Out A Drain?

When faced with persistent clogs or broken pipes, calling a professional plumber is a sensible choice. Not only will they have the expertise to address the issue, but they can also provide insights on how to prevent future pipe blockages. Investing in a hair catcher is a simple and cheap step that might be a lot easier than worrying about using a liquid drain cleaner to remove a clog from your pipe.

Your plumber has considerable experience with drain work, and they might even have products available to help you take better care of your drain.

A Plumber Can Clean Pipes Quickly And With Confidence

Whether you can afford the price of a plumber is a big factor to consider, but their expertise might provide you with peace of mind when it comes to releasing a clog from a drain or unblocking a pipe. The plumber should know the appropriate quantities of a liquid drain solution that is safe to get rid of a clog without putting the pipe system under any stress or pressure.

The Wrong Drain Cleaner Can Cause More Problems Than Solutions

Drain cleaners are a convenient solution to a clogged drain, but their chemical composition poses risks to both your plumbing system and the environment. Whether it’s a clogged toilet, garbage disposals or a kitchen sink, a safer approach would be to resort to less aggressive methods, like a homemade drain cleaner.

The same is true for septic systems, garbage disposal units, and even a chemical drain. It's also true no matter the blockage in your plumbing pipes. If you try to flush toilet paper or find food stuff leads to clogged pipes, you need to be careful in how you deal with the problem.

A plunger or auger from a hardware store might not sound like an appealing option, but if you want a solution that won't flush away too much money in replacing or repairing your drains, these options might be better than using chemicals, like a liquid drain cleaner, caustic drain cleaner or chemical drain cleaner to clean your drains.

Here are some other articles related to your search:

• Preventing Future Drain Blockages: Tips from Professional Drain Cleaners

• What Are The Only Things You Can Do If You Clog A Drain?

• Plumbing Perils: How to Save Your Home from a Drain Disaster!