It’s unfortunate that the bottles of chemicals on store shelves advertised for use on drains are called “liquid drain cleaners.” That makes them sound like legitimate methods of cleansing your bathroom and kitchen drains of clogs and any other obstructions. But ask any plumber for his or her opinion on these store-bought chemicals and you will hear the same answer: liquid “drain cleaner” should never actually be used on drains. Instead, other professional tools like plungers, drain snakes, and hydro-jetters should be brought in to do the job.
We’ll go into detail about why you should leave the drain cleaning bottles on the shelf and instead call for professionals to handle drain cleaning in Olympia, WA. If you want fast and dependable service, make your first call to Brooks Plumbing, where we take pride in “Quality in Everything We Do.”
The problems with chemical drain cleaners
- They can damage your plumbing: To break through various kinds of clogs, these chemicals must have very acidic action, and it is strong enough to corrode pipes. Older pipes are especially at risk; however, newer PVC pipes are in danger of softening and eventually breaking apart. A single application may not hurt, but this is a problem that accrues over time. Residual amounts of the chemicals will remain in your drains even after you wash water down them, and the heat they release can boil the water in the drains. Drain cleaners may cost very little to purchase, but the eventual costs to repair the damage they create can be steep.
- They can expose you to toxic gases: When you dump a whole bottleful of chemicals down the drain, it releases toxic gases that you may not initially notice except as a powerful antiseptic smell. These gases can contain chlorine and chloramine, which are poisonous and can cause damage to your respiratory system.
- They are poisonous: Keep in mind that these bottles are huge containers of very powerful poisons. If you aren’t careful when using them, they can cause damage to your skin and eyes. Only a small amount left on the floor can harm your pet if it licks it up. And the warnings on the sides of the bottles that they should be kept out of reach of children… if you don’t have to have these bottles in your house, why would you?
Let plumbers handle the job safely and effectively
When you call for a plumber to perform your drain cleaning in Olympia, WA from Brooks Plumbing, you’ll have the work done with safe and clean tools like motorized drain snakes and hydro-jetters. These methods are proven effective and will cause no harm to your plumbing—or to you. Trust to the plumbing name that has served Seattle and Olympia since 1994.
