Can Liquid Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes?
Yes, some of the liquid drain cleaners that people buy at home improvement stores can damage residential and commercial pipes. According to Dwayne Kincaid of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing – Wilmington, NC, the acids and chemicals in the so-called “professional-grade” drain cleaning products that homeowners regularly buy at stores and put down their drains can cause pipes to break down and leak unnecessarily. The Wilmington drain cleaning expert goes on to explain that some of the drain cleaning products that people buy at home improvement stores have too much acid in them for their own good. Essentially, these acids – the same acids that cut away grease and clogs, mind you – can eat away at the glazing or the enamel of the piping. This, in return, can cause damage to a home’s pipes. Most people erroneously think that they can pour drain cleaning products into their sinks and bathtubs are frequently as they wish. The general assumption is that they would not be selling these products if they were not safe to use. Unfortunately, Kincaid says this is a simple misunderstanding that many people have. As a result, homeowners across the country are damaging their pipes and costing themselves money unnecessarily. If a drain is totally clogged, then Kincaid’s advice is to let it sit, let it drain down slowly, and then try to run hot water through it. The hot water test will let you know whether you can break anything up in the clog on your own. If the hot water test does not work, then the Wilmington drain cleaning expert recommends calling in a professional plumbing company for help. The key to drain cleaning in Wilmington is preventative maintenance, says Kincaid. Preventative maintenance will help people keep their sinks and bathtubs flowing nicely and easily without having to resort to harsh chemicals and liquid cleaners. The problem with most drains, and the reason why many homeowners do not start worrying about their sinks and bathtubs until it’s too late, is that most people do not realize that there is a problem until a backup occurs. With preventative maintenance and some green additives – which professional plumbers can put in – homeowners can help ensure their drains stay clean and flowing. The green additives that Wilmington drain cleaning pros use are filled with enzymes or bacteria that get rid of clogs without damaging pipes. Kincaid’s company uses a special product that eats away at the organic material inside pipes and makes people’s systems look fresh and new. Kincaid recommends that homeowners call their plumbers and schedule monthly maintenance visits to have green additives put in their drains on a regular basis.
Dwayne Kincaid of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing – Wilmington, NC
7664 Market Street Wilmington, NC 28411
Phone: 910-313-3188