A Clean Drain Is A Happy Drain

Posted on | by Allore's Plumbing Services LLC

Don’t Poison Your Pipes with Drain Cleaning Chemicals

 

Illustration of a clogged drain with water bubbles and a blockage, emphasizing the dangers of chemical drain cleaners and the importance of professional plumbing services.Many homeowners turn to chemical drain cleaners when they’re drains are clogged. Not only are these cleaners readily available and easily accessible, a lot of brands claim to work quickly too. With this information taking the forefront, what you may not realize are that there are also some dangers associated with them as well. For this reason, most professionals don’t recommend the use of such cleaning solutions. Here are some of the reasons why.

Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Corrosive

Chemical drain cleaners contain a lot of volatile substances that make them both corrosive and poisonous too. While this works to remove clogs, they don’t stop with clearing up hair, grease and junk. They are also threatening to your plumbing and to your skin as well. In fact, some chemicals are known to eat through both things.

These cleaners are prone to splattering when they’re going down your drains or on your skin, possibly even into your eyes. This is very dangerous, which is why the directions say that you should wear goggles when using them. Even when you have protective gear on, it’s still possible for these chemicals to make their way on to another surface where they can pose a safety hazard.

Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Very Toxic

The problems with these chemicals don’t stop with their corrosiveness. They are also hazardous to your health if they’re ingested, or they come into contact with your skin. Have you ever noticed how many hazards each label warns you about? Just having these chemicals in your home exposes you to such dangers.

Furthermore, such chemicals are also very reactive to other substances that you may have in your home. One example is that when these chemicals are combined with other common household items (e.g. bleach), a very poisonous and toxic chlorine gas may form. Not only could this cause an explosion or a fire, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) it can also cause any of the following health problems

  • Eye and nose irritation
  • A sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs)
  • A choking sensation
  • Burning eyes
  • Spasmodic blinking (blepharospasm)
  • Involuntary closing of the eyelids
  • Conjunctivitis (redness and inflammation of the eyes’ membranes)
  • Chemical burns
  • Lung injury

 

Chemical Drain Cleaners Damage Fixtures

Water flowing into a metal drain, illustrating plumbing issues and the importance of professional drain cleaning services to avoid chemical damage.

Not only are chemical drain cleaning solutions a health hazard, but they may eat through your plumbing fixtures too. They can also leave a pit mark in your sink basin and tarnish your faucets.

Are the pipes clogged up in your Stuart home? If you’re having trouble, give Allores Plumbing a call at (772) 288-0998 , so we can get down to the root of the problem.