I know what you’re thinking, “oh great, the plumber is telling me not to use drain-o in my sink, and that I should give them a call”. Really, there is a reason why drain cleaning chemicals are bad for your plumbing system, bad for the environment, and bad for you. Snake away, go to the hardware store and buy one of those $5 hair removers, or call 250 Plumber (wink, wink), but whatever you do, don’t put that garbage down your drain.
Why draino is bad for your plumbing system: Draino and drain chemicals sit in pipes until the clog, hopefully, breaks in the clogged drain breaks down. Not only does the draino eat away at the clog, but it also eats away at the pipes, and glue used the adhere the pipes together. This potentially could lead to a costly leak in your drainage system.
Why draino is bad for the environment: Draino is a lye and bleach based drain cleaner that contains many other chemicals that if introduced to sewage treatment systems like in Nanaimo, can be very harmful for the environment. Just because it goes down the drain, doesn’t mean it is gone. When the chemicals found in draino are mixed with other chemicals that can be found in drainage systems can be horrible for the environment.
Why draino is bad for you: If it designed to break down that nasty hair clog in your drain, think of what it could potentially do to your eyes, skin and lungs. When you call 250 Plumber, typically, we’ll ask if you’ve used draino first because it can splash up, and make working conditions unsafe. If breathed in, the vapours can damage your lungs; if splashed on the skin, can cause blistering and skin breakdown; and if you get draino in your eyes, it can cause burns on the eye.
Of course, plumbers don’t like draino, but the logic checks out. Think twice before you put it down your drain, and if you still want to give it a try – USE IT SAFELY.
- Do not use draino for a complete blockage. With no water flow, the chemicals will sit and eat away at your pipes, and do so very quickly. This can cause a costlier issue, especially if the clog is further down the drain.
- Never use a plunger or snake after using draino. The chemicals can unsafely splash back.
- Always read the instructions beforehand, and follow them.
Final note: Plumbers never use draino in their own homes because we have seen the damage that it can cause to plumbing systems, people and nature alike. There is no such thing as a quick fix, and usually if there is, it comes at a cost.