Why Chemical Decloggers Are Bad

Every homeowner from Anoka to Stillwater has experienced a clogged drain in their homes. And if it occurs rarely, you could be tempted to take matters into your own hands and try a bottle of chemical declogger to get your drain flowing correctly. They are reasonably priced and easy to grab at the grocery store or a local hardware store. But before you make that purchase, there is more that you need to know about the caustic chemicals you are about to dump into your home’s drain pipes.

What Is In That Affordable Little Bottle?

There are no secret recipes when it comes to liquid drain cleaners. They are all made of very similar compounds, including:

• Aluminum
• Salt
• Bleach
• Lye
• Sodium Nitrate

And when you tip that bottle and pour these items into your home’s drain, several chemical reactions begin in an effort to remove the clog that created your drain issues. But it is critical to note that these are not smart liquids. And all they are doing is heading off on a rampage to destroy whatever it is they touch.

The Safety Warning

If you read the fine print on a jug of chemical drain clog remover, you will see several warnings about protecting yourself and your loved ones from this liquid. First, the lye in the mixture will quickly get to work dissolving any organic matter. And that is great if the drain clog is partially hair, but not so good if it splashes onto your skin or in your eyes. Second, there are also caustic fumes that can damage your lungs and burn your throat. So be very careful when handling this liquid and know that the chemical fumes can linger in your home for many hours.

Back To The Declogging Process

As the lye gets to work on any organic matter in the clog, the aluminum joins into the reaction and increases the temperature of the lye to near-boiling. Again, this is a great way to speed up the attack on the clog, but the intense heat can be very harmful to drain pipes and the glue that holds them together. Finally, the lye attacks the grease in the drain line to form some slippery suds that should help the clog slide down the drain more quickly.

Unfortunately, while all of this declogging is going on, the chemicals are also likely to be destroying or significantly weakening your home’s drain pipes. The intense heat and corrosive properties can harm all plastic and metal drains, resulting in leaks that contaminate your home.

A Better Solution

If you are determined to try DIY clog removal, a plunger, plumber’s snake, or organic liquid declogger are all better options. The organic clog remover uses bacteria and enzymes to erode organic material in the clog. Or you can call Paul Bunyan Plumbing And Drain for a professional clog removal that is safe for your drains, the environment and will not subject you to caustic chemical fumes. Call us at 612-340-1444 to schedule an appointment or for 24/7 emergency clog removal.