As plumbing pros, there is one mistake we see all the time from homeowners:
They use chemical drain cleaners.
You should avoid this at all costs.
Why?
There are two main risks:
First, chemical cleaners can damage your pipes.
Drain cleaners contain chemicals strong enough to break down the bacteria and sludge clogging your drain.
But did you know that they can be too strong?
Harsh chemicals like hydrochloric acid can erode the finish from your pipes and cause long term damage.
When you use chemical cleaners, you’re potentially setting yourself up for a ton of plumbing problems, leading to more costly repairs.
Second, chemical cleaners may not get the job done.
If the clog is more than a few strands of hair or coffee grounds trapped in the pipes, then drain cleaner won’t do you much good.
Sometimes water backs up because of broken pipes or sewer problems — issues that drain cleaner can’t fix.
If you use harsh chemicals to cut corners, you risk damaging your pipes.
At the end of the day, this will cause far more problems than it solves.
So if you suspect a clogged drain, we strongly recommend using a plunger.
Or do yourself a favor and just call a plumber ;)
