Clogged drains can be very annoying for homes because they commonly cause water to back up, drain slowly, or flood. These problems have the potential to seriously harm your home. The damages include possible health risks from excessive moisture as well as water damage to fixtures, walls, and flooring. The presence of standing water can also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and attract bugs. If your drain is slow or won’t clear, you know how easy it is to go buy a bottle of chemical-based floor drain cleaner to fix it right away.
These chemical drain cleaners promise quick and simple solutions. Because of this, they are a good choice for getting rid of a stubborn clog. But these toxic Liquid drain cleaners might only work for a short time. On a long-term basis, they may typically result in more harm than benefit. Many people ask, “Is drain cleaner bad for pipes?” when they want to keep their plumbing clean and working well. This question has a short answer: “yes.” The use of floor drain cleaner can damage pipes and other fixtures. This article will go into more depth about why these chemical drain cleaners can be bad for your plumbing.
I. What is a Drain Cleaner?
If you want to clear out clogged drains, floor drain cleaners are usually chemical options. They typically have acid lye or other powerful chemicals in them. These chemicals can get rid of hair, grease, and other things that could stop the drain. There are risks to using Liquid drain cleaners, yet they can eliminate some blockages. Many chemical-based shower drain cleaners contain sulfuric acid as one of their main ingredients. When mixed with the clog-causing materials, this powerful acid can dissolve them. Besides that, it can damage your pipes. Liquid floor drain cleaners mostly have acids like lye or caustic soda. Your pipes may corrode as a result of these chemicals.
II. Why are Chemical-Based Drain Cleaners Harmful?
There are three main categories of chemical drain cleaners: acid, oxidizing, and caustic. The most common ingredients in caustic drain cleaners include lye and potash, which are both forms of sodium hydroxide. The pH of these chemicals is high, which means they are alkaline. They do their job by generating heat. This dissolves any organic material blocking the drain, such as food particles, hair, or grease. In contrast, oxidizing chemical floor drain cleaners may contain nitric oxide, bleach, and peroxides. Because of these chemicals, the organic atoms of the blockage start losing electrons. They mix with the cleanser, which effectively dissolves the blockage.
The hardest kind of chemical-based shower drain cleaners are acidic ones. These chemicals usually have sulfuric or hydrochloric acid in them. The pH of these acids is quite low, and they are intensely reactive. So they can eat away at whatever is blocking the pipe. These liquid floor drain cleaners break down organic waste by starting chemical processes. But these reactions can make too much heat, which damages the seals in PVC pipes. Because of this, they are especially harmful to these kinds of pipes.
Also, these liquid floor drain cleaners may hurt pipes. Because chemicals and heat can melt metal pipes and bend plastic ones. You may use chemical-based shower drain cleaners on every kind of pipe in your house. The acidic ingredients in chemical drain cleaners can damage pipes made of metal or plastic, even causing cracks and other damage. Chemical processes can make heat that can damage plumping pipes, which can cause leaks and other problems. Chemical drain cleaners generate heat, which may cause PVC pipes. Because of these things, it’s clear that chemical drain cleaners should only be used as a last option.
III. Reasons Why Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Bad for Your Floor Drain and Pipes.
1. Heat Damage and Chemical Reactions
Chemical drain cleaners in liquid form use heat to dissolve blockages. When it comes to PVC pipes, heat can actually make them bend or become soft. The heat can also gradually wear down older metal pipes. This increases the possibility of leaks or failures.
2. Corrosion over time.
There may be unseen damage in your pipes, and we understand that. In particular, when the harm is caused by an item that you believed was beneficial. But liquid drain cleaners are bad, and the chemicals in them are known to damage pipes, especially after being used a lot. This is especially true in old homes with weak metal pipes. The slow corrosion can cause cracks and large leaks in plumping pipes.
3. Bad for your septic system.
If you have a septic system, chemical floor drain cleaners can make things even worse. These chemicals eliminate the good bacteria that are essential for septic tank waste breakdown. These bacteria are necessary for the septic system to work. The system will back up, fail, and need expensive fixes without it.
4. Health risks of drain cleaners
The use of floor drain cleaner can damage pipes and even put people’s health in danger. Breathing in fumes can make your lungs hurt, and touching your skin by mistake could cause serious burns. These cleaners are very dangerous to your health if you use them wrong.
IV. FAQs
Q1: What tools do plumbers use to unclog drains?
Hydro jetting is what plumbers use to get rid of the toughest, deepest clogs. This drain clearing tools washes your pipes and gets rid of buildup using high-pressure water. The water jet is powerful enough to remove tree roots as well.
Q2: Why should you avoid chemical-based liquid drain cleaners?
Floor drain cleaners can damage your plumbing pipes and fixtures because they are corrosive. This kind of damage can turn into leaks over time. The chemical drain cleaner can damage your home plumping. You might also have to deal with the trouble and cost of replacing broken pipes because of the damage.
Q3: Is it safe to pour boiling water into the shower drain?
If your drains are clear, you can pour hot water down the shower drain. But if there’s a clog, the water will stay in the pipe. This can result in severe damage to PVC pipelines and seals by melting them.
V. Conclusion
In conclusion, is chemical drain cleaner harmful to pipes? The answer is clear: chemical drain cleaners work in the short term, but they can damage pipes over time and put people at risk and plumbing fixtures. You can clear clogged floor drains safely and effectively by using mechanical methods or natural options. You should use better and more reliable drain cleaning options, such as plungers, drain snakes, or even baking soda and vinegar. But, you might not always be able to clear a blockage by yourself.
You should call a professional at this point. If the drains on your floors keep getting clogged, it’s probably time to call a plumber. Also, you only use top-notch drains in your houses. If you are looking for high-quality stainless steel floor drains, Yzdrain is here to help you. We offer you a wide selection of floor drains to fit any type of home design.
