The short answer is yes, but they may not be the best way to deal with a stubborn drain clog, and most of us tend to turn to them because they’re convenient. Most modern drain cleaning products are solutions of acids and bases that are formulated to melt clogs and clear the pipe. These products are simple to use, but the instructions must be followed carefully because they typically contain caustic chemicals that can cause burns. The clog should be removed after pouring the directed amount into the drain, leaving it for a while, and flushing it with water. This article will delve into the topic in more detail and offer some alternatives.
Why Choose a Drain Cleaning Product?
These products are readily available, stored for a long time, and are easy to use. They offer convenience with no effort and may penetrate further into the pipe than a plumbing snake with a limited range. Breaking apart a clog manually can take time, and for professional plumbers, it’s the preferred way to deal with clogs. But, these products are not all the same, and they can be broadly classified as: acidic, caustic, chemical, non-toxic, and enzyme drain cleaners:
- Acidic Cleaners: These are formulated to remove formidable clogs, but they are risky to use due to the burn risks and potential damage to plumbing pipes. If they are used, it should be very sparingly, the instructions must be followed carefully, and the pipes need to be flushed thoroughly.
- Caustic Cleaners: These are viable alternatives to acidic drain cleaners. They are designed to break down organic matter. They can work well with general drain clogs, but they are corrosive, and handling them without gloves is dangerous.
- Chemical Cleaners: These are used to dissolve the materials that cause blockages, such as hair, soap scum, grease, and more. However, each product has specific effects, and selecting the product that works for you is essential.
- Enzyme Cleaners: These are gentle drain cleaning products that use fermenting bacteria to break down organic matter in the drain clog. Homeowners who are interested in environmentally friendly products and prepared to pay a premium for them may prefer this option.
- Non-Toxic Cleaners: These products remove clogs without harsh chemicals and are preferred for modern plastic pipes.
- Oxidizing Cleaners: These work similarly to a caustic product, but they remove electrons from organic matter using nitrates and bleach. They are popular liquid drain cleaners that combine with water to generate heat.
The Disadvantages of Drain Cleaning Products
A reaction that generates heat to melt the blockage is at the heart of most chemical drain cleaners. This is the first problem to consider. Modern pipes are made of plastic materials that can melt or warp if they are exposed to direct heat. Even an older plumbing pipe made of metal could bulge due to the application of heat. Repeated uses can cause an accumulation of damage over time, and pressure and heat can cause cracks in the pipe wall or a burst.
If a plumbing system has a connected septic tank, it’s important to understand that a chemical drain cleaner is a bad choice. These systems rely on bacteria to break down organic waste material, and adding chemicals may kill these bacteria and render them useless. This damage can persist for a long time, and it may even survive septic tank cleaning.
There are also health implications when chemical drain cleaners are used. They can cause chemical burns if they come into direct contact with the skin. They may release chemical fumes that cause damage if they are breathed in. This is why using these products in a well-ventilated room is essential. Breathing these chemicals for a prolonged period or in larger volumes may cause brain and respiratory system damage.
Chemical drain cleaners are designed to react with organic matter to generate heat but are especially dangerous for the skin and eyes. Wearing eye protection is often overlooked when it comes to these cleaning products. However, eye damage is a genuine risk due to accidental eye rubbing, sprays, spillages, and more. Extreme care should be exercised if you decide to use chemical cleaning products.
What are the Alternatives?
Now that you understand some of the dangers and limitations of harsher drain cleaning products, it’s natural to consider alternatives. Many tried and tested methods exist to clear a clog or sanitize a drain, and many ingredients can already be found in your store cupboard. Attempting one or more of these approaches may work for you and won’t damage your skin, eyes, or plumbing pipes.
Make Your Own Chemical Drain Cleaner
Remember that chemical drain cleaners work on the principle that a chemical reaction creates heat. But what if you could make your own kinder chemical cleaner that worked on the same principle at a lower temperature? This is easy to do at home; all you need is white vinegar and baking soda. Pour a cup of baking soda into the clogged drain and add white vinegar. You will see an immediate reaction as the mixture foams and goes to work on your clogged drain. As a bonus, getting either ingredient or the foaming mixture on your skin won’t cause any damage. If you can, leave the mixture in the drain overnight, and the next day, flush it with hot (not boiling) water. The drain may be fully restored, and it will smell fresher because the baking soda has antibacterial properties.
Make a DIY Plumbing Kit
The next option is to create your DIY plumbing kit to clear clogs and deal with minor repairs. All you need is a multi-head screwdriver, a couple of adjustable wrenches, some plumbing tape, a cup plunger, a flange plunger, and plumbing snakes in various sizes. These items can all be kept together in a dedicated plumbing toolbox that you can keep handy for emergencies. Learning how to perform minor plumbing repairs, such as fixing leaky faucets, installing drain traps, and other tasks are beyond the scope of this article. However, the plungers and plumbing snakes will be helpful for manually removing drain clogs.
How to Use Plungers to Clear Drain Clogs
The cup plunger is a simple rubber cup with a handle that can be placed over a complete drain and moved up and down to change the pressure in the pipe. This forces the drain clog to move it out of the system or break it apart. Take care to avoid being too vigorous because too much pressure could cause damage to the pipe. The flange plunger looks much like a cup plunger but has a rubber flap running along the outer edge. This allows the plunge to be used on a curved surface, such as the inside of the toilet. Again, slow and steady is the proper approach, and the applied pressure may be sufficient to remove a minor blockage or clog.
How to Use Plumbing Snakes to Clear Drain Clogs
A plumbing snake may be referred to as an auger or drain snake, but don’t be confused—these are the same tools. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are relatively inexpensive. A comprehensive plumbing tool kit should contain at least a few valuable tools in varying sizes to remove clogs.
All plumbing augers comprise a long flexible tube with some drill or cutting bit at one end and a handle and crank at the opposite end. When the crank is turned, the bit at the other end turns similarly to a hand-cranked drill. Some of the best modern plumbing snakes have auto-feed systems and portable power plants. There are specific augurs for drains, but most homeowners opt for a general model that meets almost all of their needs.
To use the plumbing snake, simply feed it slowly into the blocked drain until the drill bit nudges up against the drain clog. Maintain the pressure on the clog and turn or activate the crank to cut into it. This should break the clog apart, and the smaller pieces can be flushed away in the drain with plenty of water. This is a more lasting solution than a drain cleaning product can provide, and the clog is less likely to return.
In Conclusion
Avoid harsher chemical drain cleaning products because they harm your health and plumbing pipes. The enzyme and non-toxic cleaners are kinder for you and the environment but may not work on a formidable drain clog. Try DIY approaches, such as using a homemade cleaner, a plunger, or a plumbing snake to remove the clog. If none of these approaches work, there may be an underlying plumbing problem to solve, or the clog is lodged deep in the plumbing system. This is when you should contact your local professional plumber to fix the issue for you.
