Reasons to Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaning Solutions to Unclog Your Drain
Chemical drain cleaners are a common remedy used in unclogging kitchen and bathroom drains, but did you know that these chemicals can actually cause more harm than good? Here are some reasons why chemical drain cleaning solutions should be avoided.
To start with, the chemicals found drain cleaners emit toxic fumes that can be harmful to your family and pets. These fumes can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Excessive usage can result in severe damage to your upper respiratory tract that can potentially lead to a chemical-induced pneumonia.
If drain cleaners are designed to eat away sticky buildup deep down in your drains, just imagine the harm it could do to your skin. One of the main ingredients, sodium hydroxide, can cause severe tissue damage, or burns, if your skin is exposed to it. Being splashed in the eyes with just a small amount of sodium hydroxide could potentially cause blindness.
When left unattended, sometimes dogs and cats will jump up onto sinks so they can lick up any water that’s left behind. You wouldn’t want to accidentally expose them to residual drain cleaner solution that hasn’t flowed down the drain. There are also other animals that you should be concerned about – wild animals that rely on lakes and rivers for water. Sometimes uncapped drain cleaner bottles wind up in these watery regions, poisoning fish and other surrounding wildlife.
Pipes are commonly made from copper, tough PVC plastic, or galvanized steel copper. And while these surfaces may seem durable or indestructible, the oxidizing chemicals found in drain cleaning solutions can be corrosive to them as well, particularly if the pipes are already in a weakened state.
The next time your drain becomes clogged, instead of reaching for a bottle of drain cleaning solution, call your plumber for professional drain cleaning services such as hydro jetting. Hydro jetting utilizes highly pressurized reverse water jets to clean drains at the effective rate of 1,500 to 4,000 pounds per minute, to break apart and flush down grease, dirt, food particles, hair, and other unwanted sediment.
Are the drains in your West Covina home clogged? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!