How Drain Cleaner Affects Your Pipes

Finding a sink full of water containing last night's dinner scraps can definitely put a damper on your morning, especially if you haven't had your first cup of coffee. While your first instinct may be to reach under the counter and grab the chemical drain cleaner, you may want to consider an alternative option.

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While chemical drain cleaning solutions are effective at dissolving stubborn blockages, overuse of these products may actually cause more harm than good. Understanding how chemical drain cleaners work and taking some time to learn about nonchemical alternatives may help save your pipes and prevent a large plumbing bill down the line.

How Do Chemical Drain Cleaners Work?

Caustic cleaners and acidic cleaners are the two most common types of commercial chemical drain cleaning solutions. Caustic drain cleaners contain chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, which dissolves organic materials that cause clogs and blockages, while acidic cleaners contain strong chemicals such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Both types of drain cleaners are effective at eliminating stubborn clogs from pipe walls, but in some cases they may also eat through your pipes.

Is Chemical Drain Cleaner Safe for Pipes?

While some commercial drain cleaners claim to be safe on all types of pipe material, this isn't exactly the case. Whether you have copper, steel or PVC piping, excessive use of chemical drain cleaners may increase the risk of corrosion and damage. Most caustic chemical drain cleaning products contain sodium hydroxide, which creates heat when reacting with clogs and blockages.

If you have PVC piping, prolonged exposure to sodium hydroxide can create too much heat, leading to warping, melting and the formation of small holes. Sodium hydroxide-based cleaners can also damage and corrode metal pipes and P-traps and increase the risk of leaks. Acidic drain cleaners are harsher than caustic drain cleaners, and the heavy acidity can corrode copper and steel pipes as it breaks down blockages.

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Alternatives to Chemical Drain Cleaners

From home remedies to drain snakes and plungers and good old-fashioned dish soap, there are many alternative drain cleaning options that don't utilize harsh chemicals. Some effective alternatives include:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar is an alternative drain cleaning method that's both gentle and effective. Start by pouring around a half-gallon of boiling water into the affected drain. If you're dealing with a heavy clog, use a plunger to help unstick the blockage.

Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain and allow it to sit for a minute or two. Next, pour a cup of white vinegar into the drain. You may hear a sizzling or bubbling sound when the vinegar meets the baking soda.

Cover the drain and allow the vinegar and baking soda to work for at least an hour. Lastly, pour another half-gallon of boiling water down the drain to flush the debris through the pipes.

Hot Water and Mild Dish Soap

Hot water and gentle liquid dish soap makes a great alternative to chemical-heavy cleaners that can sometimes damage your drains. Simply squeeze a few large drops of store-bought liquid dish soap into your drains and run the water as hot as possible.

When combined, the soap and water cuts through grease and food particles and flushes everything through your plumbing pipes. If your drain is blocked or clogged, you may have to repeat the process a few times.

Drain Snakes

A drain snake or plumbing snake is a flexible metal tool that removes clogs and foreign objects with the help of a coiled spring. Once the snake is inserted into the drain, the coiled portion releases and moves deeper into the pipe until it hits the blockage.

The wiring on the snake helps break down the blockage so it can easily travel through your plumbing system. You can also use the snake to pull the blockage up and out of the drain.

Hydro-jetting

Hydro-jetting is a drain-cleaning procedure in which professional plumbers use specialized equipment to push highly pressurized water through drains and plumbing pipes. This procedure is generally recommended to help remove heavy blockages and clogs or hard water sediment buildup on pipe walls.