While liquid drain cleaners can be a quick and easy fix for slow or clogged drains, but it’s only a temporary solution and the issue tends to come back. Below we offer some guidance to help you solve your drain problems:
The Pros of Drain Cleaners
- Quick fix for slow drains
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
The Cons of Drain Cleaners
- Treats the symptoms – not the root cause
- Corrosive
- Does not remove clogs
What the Drain Cleaners Don’t Tell You
Drain cleaners are typically advertised as “clog pushers.” This isn’t exactly accurate. Drain cleaning fluid is a corrosive substance, which means it actually “eats” away at clogs rather than pushing them.
Liquid drain products don’t just eat clogs, but they also eat at metal pipes, fixtures, and clothing. This can weaken pipes and damage fixtures. Besides that, it’s a health hazard, even causing blindness if it contacts your eyes!
Another product you might have been told to use is hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid. This is a dangerous product! The vapors are incredibly harmful, so it’s necessary to wear a respirator when using this chemical. It can also cause severe burns and blindness if it comes into contact with your skin and eyes. For safety reasons, we strongly suggest you do not use this product.
The bottom line is that your average liquid drain cleaners only treat the symptoms, not the root causes of drain clogs, and sometimes cause other problems. Your best bet when experiencing a clogged drain is to call a professional.
What the Pros Know
A drain expert is skilled in finding the least invasive way to unclog your drain. They are able to address the source of the issue, not just fix the symptoms. You also don’t have to worry about your drains being eaten way by corrosive substances! A drain tech will effectively remove the clog and reopen the flow so water can pass smoothly through your home’s pipes once again.
3 Easy Ways to Prevent Clogged Drains:
- Use a natural enzyme drain cleaner to prevent clogs from forming.
Enzymes are healthy bacteria that spread through your drain system and while they do not remove clogs, they can certainly prevent a clog from building up. TLC offers a product called Lenzyme that we’ve found to be particularly effective. To order Lenzyme, give us a call at (505) 961-9644. - Use a strainer over your drains.
A drain strainer collects hair, large soap pieces, and food items to prevent them from going down the drain. Simply throw away the items collected by the strainer. You can purchase these at any home improvement store. This could save you the cost repairs later. - Use a pair of pliers to remove hair from the drain in your bathtub/shower
If you do this regularly, it should only take a few minutes. Simply insert needle-nosed pliers into your drain and remove whatever hair you can reach.
While popular liquid drain cleaners seem like an easy solution, just know that they are a temporary solution. They can also be damaging to your plumbing and your health. Your best bet is to call a professional to fully clean the clogged drain and solve the problem once and for all. You can schedule a drain cleaning appointment online or give us a call at (505) 761-9644.