Learn why it’s best to call a plumber for drain cleaning rather than buy a chemical cleaner.
Slow or stopped drains are annoying. Naturally, if you encounter one at your home or business you want a quick fix. Your first instinct might be to reach for a bottle of liquid drain cleaner. Here are 4 reasons why you need to resist this instinct and call a plumber for professional drain cleaning instead.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
The first reason not to mess with chemical drain cleaners is that they contain all kinds of harmful chemicals. Even if you are very careful not to get any of the liquid on your skin while pouring it down the clogged drain, you may still suffer discomfort from inhaling the fumes from the product. Chemical drain cleaners can be deadly if swallowed. If you have young kids in your home, why risk having such a harmful product around at all when you could just call a plumber?
Chemical Drain Cleaners May Damage Your Pipes
Some types of liquid drain cleaners can actually damage your pipes. This is especially true of acidic drain cleaners and older pipes. However, repeated use of chemical drain cleaners can damage any kind of pipe including copper pipe given enough time.
Chemical Drain Cleaners May Not Solve the Problem
A very compelling reason not to try chemical drain cleaners is that they simply may not work. It all depends on the type of blockage you have in your pipes and the kind of drain cleaner you have chosen.
Though some products claim to be effective on hair and grease, in reality it may take repeated doses of the product to make a significant dent in a hair clog. Even then, the clog may just be dislodged enough to move to a new location further down the pipe where it will wait to cause you problems another day.
If your drainage problem is not caused by a clog at all, but rather by problems with your pipes themselves, obviously drain cleaner will not work. Drainage problems related to things like broken pipes or improper grading can only be solved by a plumber.
Chemical Drain Cleaners Waste Your Time and Money
One final reason to skip the chemical drain cleaner and call Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing at (661) 947-2653 at the first sign of a clog is that in the long run, our service is fast and cost effective. Whereas a persistently slow drain could have you spending hundreds of dollars on drain cleaners over the course of a few years, we could clear that clog for good in just one visit. We offer emergency service if needed, which is certainly more convenient that going to the store to buy drain cleaner yourself and might even be faster depending on your location.
Remember, Consumer Reports has estimated that Americans spend $150 million each year on chemical drain cleaners and explicitly stated that “much of that money goes right down the drain.” Don’t waste your money! Call Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing for effective drain cleaning, guaranteed.