DO DIY DRAIN CLEANERS WORK?
Blocked drain repairs in Sydney can be expensive. Unfortunately, this means many locals are turning to DIY drain cleaners and off-the-shelf products which are sold to them as potential solutions to serious blockages.
While some drain cleaning products, such as Vaporooter, are effective at managing very specific problems, like tree roots, many off-the-shelf solutions are highly toxic. Risky to apply, dangerous for the technician who cleans up the job, and harmful to the environment, drain cleaning solutions should be avoided at all costs.
What’s The Harm In Using Chemical Drain Cleaners?
Drain cleaner toxicity is so well documented that the United States National Library of Medicine has a page devoted to the topic. ‘Drain cleaner poisoning’ is, according to the library, caused by breathing, swallowing, or even skin contact with the chemicals in drain cleaner.
The active ingredient, sodium hydroxide, is found in some drain cleaners, as well as aquarium products. The list of symptoms of ‘drain cleaner poisoning’ reads as serious stuff, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, loss of vision… not something you’d associate with a common, off-the-rack product designed to be an easy fix for blocked drains!
WHY DON’T THEY WORK?
Every blocked drain is different. Any supermarket solution is going to work some of the time, for some issues, but there is no magic cure-all. Any product that promises differently should raise eyebrows.
Without investigating your blocked drain problem, it’s also difficult for plumbers or sales staff to make informed recommendations about what’s going to work for a specific drain. Everything from the material composition of the drain to the specifics of the blockage – tree roots vs food waste, toilet paper vs sewage, and so on – has a big impact on what’s going to work best.
Drain cleaners aren’t great for the pipes themselves. Corrosive chemicals that make the cleaners work also eat away at the interior of your sewer line, making future blockages more likely, as waste matter gets caught on the pipe’s roughened surface.
This is a great way to ensure a costly reline or dig-up down the track. If you use off the shelf drain cleaner, you might put off spending the big bucks for now, but it’s going to come around sooner rather than later.
WHAT ABOUT ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES?
Honestly, the eco-friendliest way to clean a drain is mechanically. Plungers, jets, and eels are all effective drain cleaning solutions that don’t rely on pouring corrosive liquid down your pipes.
A lot of blogs and websites suggest different eco solutions to your drain woes. Many of these are great for minor blockages that would otherwise be cleared with a hand plunger. But for larger sewer issues, you’re out of luck. Drain cleaner fluids “work” for the same reason they’re toxic and dangerous: they eat away whatever is blocking your pipes. Nothing in nature, generally, is going to have the same effect.
That said, we’ve already mentioned Vaporooter, which is one environmentally friendly product we use to control the growth of tree roots in pipes. Vaporooter is our favoured tree root solution, which eats the roots blocking a pipe while preserving the life of the tree. It doesn’t get eco-friendlier than that.
CALL THE EXPERTS
When you’ve got a blocked drain, don’t reach for a hazardous chemical cleaner. Call the experts, Plumber To The Rescue on 1800 620 227 for immediate service. We put your drains first, and are always close by, always ready to rescue you!
Don’t wait: call today for on-time service, same-day repairs and honest advice. Get in touch on 1800 620 227. We Repair What Your Husband Fixed!
IS IT REALLY EASY?
We’ve done out best to make the steps above as simple as possible, but please bear in mind that the above information is general and is by no means a substitute for comprehensive professional advice. Before working on your home plumbing, you should always consult a licensed professional.
The key to keeping costs low on your plumbing is identifying faults whilst they are still minor and easily fixable, before they become larger problems, which cause serious damage to your heater or your property – not to mention the safety risks.
At best, a hot water heater malfunction can be a frustrating nuisance; at worst, it can literally explode, which could spell disaster for your home.
Regular maintenance of your hot water heater is a great way to save in the long run. But there are some jobs that really should be left to the experts; heaters are delicate and temperamental, and can be dangerous if you’re not careful.
A DIY inspection is a great first step; but the expertise of your local superhero plumbers Sydney wide, you’re always in safe hands. We’ve got 30 years of experience saving Sydney from hot water heater disasters!
Check your heater manual; on average, manufacturers recommend a professional investigation every year or two. This investigation will turn up any issues that may be invisible to the untrained eye!
What’s more, with fully stocked vans on the go 24/7, the team at Plumber To The Rescue can repair or replace your heater that day, and get your water back on track.
Your local Plumber To The Rescue Sydney plumber is the plumber Sydney trusts for every hot water job.
With amazing customer care keeping you in the loop the whole way through, you won’t be in the dark; we’ll keep you in the know every step of the job, from the time you call until it comes time to settle the bill, and it comes time for you to enjoy your new hot water heater.
Never fear the cold shower again: Plumber To The Rescue is here! Contact us now, or call 1800 620 227 for more information.