We’ve all been there: the bathtub starts filling during your shower, the toilet won’t flush, or the kitchen sink won’t drain. Each of these plumbing problems is the result of some kind of obstruction within your plumbing lines. The tempting solution is to use one of the various chemical drain cleaners you can purchase at your local retailer.

And yes, they can sometimes work. However, there are plenty of reasons not to use chemical drain cleaners. Often, they don’t address the primary problem, meaning that you’ll eventually experience another clog of some kind. Here are all the reasons Yoder Electric doesn’t recommend chemical drain cleaners.

Common Causes of Clogged Drains

Let’s start by addressing this question first. A clog is nothing more than an obstruction. It may be clumped hair, built-up grease, or soap scum. Eventually, these bind together and prevent the proper draining of your sinks, tubs, and toilets. There are also hard clogs, such as physical objects, roots, and more.

The 3 Types of Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners are relatively inexpensive, though their costs can add up over time and eventually cost more than fixing the problem the right way. There are three primary types on the market in increasing levels of intensity: oxidizing, caustic, and acidic. Sometimes, a residential plumber in Columbus, Ohio may choose to use these during their visit to your home. However, they have the skills and tools to handle the chemical properly while preventing damage.

Reason 1: They can damage your plumbing system.

Speaking of damage, remember our comment about chemical drain cleaners eventually costing you more money? Besides a constant need to buy more and more products to clear your clogs, chemical drain cleaners can also damage all aspects of your plumbing system. From your pipes to your garbage disposal to your septic system, each of these can eventually wear down from repeated usage of chemical drain cleaners.

Reason 2: They can’t remove invasive tree roots.

Also, earlier we mentioned hard clogs. Rarely can a chemical drain cleaner tackle this problem. Often, roots invade through worn-out plumbing seals. The only way to permanently fix this is to repair the plumbing.

Reason 3: They don’t work on all types of clogs.

If roots are one barrier for chemical drain cleaners, another reason not to use them is that they don’t touch other types of hard clogs. Lego bricks, cotton swabs, and even clothing are just some of the objects Columbus, Ohio plumbers have pulled out of clogged pipes. No amount of drain cleaner will ever clear this type of blockage.

Reason 4: They’re not environmentally friendly.

Finally, if you’re worried about the environment including our water supply, you should avoid chemical drain cleaners. Rarely are they eco-friendly, though some manufacturers are slowly adding that to their product lineup.

The best way to clear a clog

First, if you have a clog that cannot be plunged clear, you’re going to want to call a residential plumber. Columbus, Ohio has no shortage of contractors to choose from, which means you will need a skilled team and not a fly-by-night operation.

That is where we come in. As a licensed residential and commercial plumber in Columbus, Ohio, the R&T Yoder Plumbing team is fully equipped to handle any type of plumbing problem you may encounter. Send us a message here requesting a callback, or call us today at (614) 972-1614.