Plumbing is one of the greatest in-home miracles we take for granted. Built into the guts of your home, the pipes form an invisible, seemingly-magical network of water carriage that helps keep you clean and healthy. But when these pipes get clogged or dirty, real trouble can result. Many people lack the knowledge to properly take care of pipes, and so they use products that can cause severe damage. This article will detail a few tips for safely managing drain clogs.
Caustic Cleaners
Many of the cleaners you find on the shelf are caustic, using chemicals like lye to clear a clog. This means they attempt to react with and dissolve the crud that is causing a clog. Unfortunately, the chemicals contained in these cleaners can also lead to corrosion of certain materials in your pipes.
Oxidizing Chemicals
A lot of commercial cleaners contain oxidizing agents, which help to further break up the clogged materials. Unfortunately, oxidation also results in the generation of heat, which can soften and weaken the PVC that your pipes are made of.
Homeowners can also unwittingly damage pipes in their homes with cleaning supplies for other purposes. Bleach, for example, is a powerful oxidizer that you use for all kinds of cleaning tasks. Many people have no problem disposing of the bleach by simply throwing it in the sink. This practice can lead to pipe damage and other problems, especially if you have a septic tank!
Acidic Cleaners
Acid-based cleaners combine the reactivity of caustic cleaners with the heat-generating potential of oxidizers. When a strong acid like hydrochloric acid reaches water, it produces a lot of heat. While this can help with clogs resulting from grease and other congealed substances, acid cleaners also pose a risk to metal and PVC pipes alike.
How to Prevent Damage
When push comes to shove, it is important that you maintain a healthy inspection schedule for your pipes according to EZ Plumbing Inc., a company that specializes in Edmonton plumbing. Unless you’re a professional, it is essential that you have somebody who knows how to diagnose problems come in and help. This can save you a lot of heartache, since people with good intention but little knowledge can do a lot of harm to your pipes. Ruined pipes will definitely be more expensive to deal with than a professional call for a drainage problem!
Use caution when pouring any kind of chemical down the drain. While the plumbing in your home may seem like a magic portal that takes waste away, rest assured that you can be doing a lot of harm. Bring in a professional for regular inspections so you can avoid a costly repair in the future.