Liquid Drain Cleaning vs Professional Drain Cleaning Services | San Antonio, TX
If you have a clogged drain in San Antonio, TX or an issue that you know drain cleaning will solve, it can be tempting to head to the store to buy some drain cleaner. After all, you can do it yourself and it may seem cheaper than calling out a drain cleaning service. However, you may be shocked to learn that in the long run taking this seemingly easy shortcut may end up to be much more costly than you anticipated. Drain cleaners can cause damage to your plumbing system and eventually leave you with a plumbing emergency that requires a large emergency cleanup bill.
This is just one of the many reasons why most professional plumbers will tell you to avoid commercial drain cleaners. While they seem to bring quick results and have an attractive price tag, what they are doing to your plumbing is not worth it. If you have been confused about how to troubleshoot a clogged drain, keep reading to find out why you should skip the drain cleaner and go straight to a drain cleaning service in San Antonio, TX.
Most Drain Cleaners are Toxic
If you have pets or small children in your home, then you may want to think twice about using commercial drain cleaners. Most products are toxic which can pose a threat to your family members. Liquid drain cleaners are usually made out of abrasive chemicals that are very toxic; it is these chemicals that allow them to eat away at almost anything in your pipes. The generic drain cleaners are usually the worst offenders because they worry more about price than safety.
In addition to being toxic if consumed or if spilled on your skin, liquid drain cleaners also release toxic fumes that are harmful if inhaled. Many people who use them often report that the fumes from the drain cleaners also irritate their throat, nose, and eyes. If you hire a professional to take care of your drain cleaning you won’t have to worry about any of this and you will get peace of mind that you aren’t harming the environment.
After all, once you pour your liquid drain cleaner down your drain you are releasing it into the environment around you. This results in heavy, toxic chemicals mixing with drinking water, soil, and eventually nearby water sources. In short, there is nowhere safe for these chemicals to be released, which is why you never want to introduce them to the water in the first place. You can avoid all of these issues by simply calling a professional for help in San Antonio, TX.
Drain Cleaners Can Damage Your Pipes
Past the environmental and health impact of drain cleaners, is the simple fact that they are good for your home plumbing system. Most people look at drain cleaners because they want to troubleshoot a problem with their plumbing system. If you choose liquid drain cleaners you may be inadvertently introducing a larger problem into your system.
Those heavy chemicals mentioned above do more than just break up the clog. Those same chemicals can start to eat away at the drain and your piping as well. The main ingredient in many chemical drain cleaners is hydrochloric acid, which will eat anything it touches. If you frequently use liquid drain cleaners in place of calling a professional for help with drain cleaning, then you may slowly be eating away at your pipes. The more you use these cleaners the more your drains and pipes are exposed to the acid until eventually, your pipes wear thin. Believe it or not, liquid drain cleaners can eventually eat through your pipes which will leave you with a very expensive problem. At this point, the cost of a professional drain cleaning service will look very cheap.
Liquid Drain Cleaner May Not Solve the Problem
Liquid drain cleaners eat away at clogs to solve drain issues, but if the issue is larger than a clogged drain they may not even work. You may be exposing yourself to toxic chemicals and possibly corroding your pipes and still have a clogged pipe at the end of the day. Other reasons explain why a drain is not emptying properly, and liquid drain cleaner will not solve these issues regardless of how much you pour it down the drain. This is why it is always a good idea to consult with a drain cleaning company anytime you start to have problems with a drain or sink backing up.
If the clogged sink or drain is caused by broken pipes or a damaged sewer line then you need a different solution. Sometimes obstructions are not easy to remove, and they will simply come back. For example, a root that is blocking a sewer line will grow back through the line if the situation is not examined carefully. If you have any reason at all to believe your clog is caused by a larger issue than skip the drain cleaner and call a professional right away. If the damage is the case, usually the quicker you solve the problem the cheaper it will be.
Turn to a Professional Drain Cleaning Service
So now that you understand the perils of drain cleaners, you may be wondering what to do the next time you have a clogged drain. Simply call the professionals at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain and ask them for help with drain cleaning. One quick evaluation and cleaning of your main sewer line should be enough to fix most problems, and if the issue is larger than that the plumber can advise you properly. Regular drain cleaning is the best way to prevent and treat clogs so that you never get any surprises.
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