Should You Be Using Any Chemicals Down Your Drains?

Have you ever used chemicals to clean your drain system? You are not alone. Many people find it easier to grab a bottle of cleaner and pour its content down the drain without thinking about the repercussions of such an action.

Cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and can also damage the plumbing system. That’s why it’s better to have your drain system cleaned by a trained plumber. Here are some reasons why you should avoid pouring chemicals down your drains.

Cleaning Products are Corrosive

Drain cleaning products are incredibly corrosive, which explains why they can break up tough clogs. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost. They’ll also attack your pipes and erode them. With time, your pipes will get weaker and eventually break. Most drain cleaning products contain hydrochloric acid, which is a harsh chemical to metal and PVC pipes.

Drain Cleaning Products Are Harmful to the Environment

After using a drain cleaning chemical, its bottle will still have some chemical residues. These chemicals are poisonous are dangerous to the environment. When you dispose of the bottle, the chemical residue will damage the environment.

If millions of people dispose of such bottles, the damage to the environment will be disastrous. And in case of sewer backups, the harmful chemicals will get back into your house. The plastic bottles used to store these chemicals are also harmful to the environment because they are non-biodegradable.

Further Chemical Reactions Caused by Drain Cleaning Products

The same way some residual chemicals remain in plastic bottles, some will also remain in your pipes. If you use a different chemical in the future, it may react with the chemicals in the pipes. The reaction can be so violent to the extent of damaging your drainage pipes. If the reaction produces heat, your plumbing system can get affected significantly if PVC pipes are used.

If your drainage system is clogged, don’t rush to use chemicals to unclog it. Instead, call Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing. We have special equipment and tools we can use to unclog your draining system. If we have to use chemicals, we know which chemicals will work best for your drain system and are environmentally friendly.