How Drain Cleaners Can Damage Pipes

2/14/2020 (Permalink)

Most homeowners will experience a clogged drain at one time or another. Many people will rush out to buy a drain cleaner to pour down the pipes. Although this may clear out the problem, it might not be the best solution. When you suspect that your home in Smith Village, OK, has a sewage problem, there are several different approaches you can take to clear it out. Here are a few reasons you may want to think twice before using a chemical pipe cleaner.

How Chemical Drain Cleaners Can Damage Pipes

Common products work by producing an electron transfer process, which either provides or depletes electrons from the organic substances inside your drain. This creates heat that breaks down the material until it can be washed away. The problem is that this heat can cause damage when used in certain types of pipes:

• Older pipes
  
• Plastic pipes
  
• Weak pipes
  
• Pipes that are completely clogged
  
  

Using these cleaners in a pipe that is completely clogged will leave the product nowhere to go. As the chemical reaction happens, the heat will sit against the pipes in one location and may cause damage.

Types of Damage That Can Occur

While these cleaners may be effective at clearing out the clog, the same process that is breaking down the organic material is also working against the inside wall of your pipes. When this happens in weakened pipes, or for too long of a period, it can cause the pipes to warp or swell. In a worst-case situation, it could lead to a burst pipe or leak. Instead, you could use a plunger, auger, enzymatic drain cleaner, or hire a sewage cleaning company.
When you have a clogged drain, the last thing you want to do is create a bigger problem for yourself. Instead of using chemicals that may hurt your plumbing, you can hire an expert water remediation company to fix the problem.