How do Drain Cleaners Work?

Drain cleaning solutions work by breaking up clogs. Whether you are using a harsh chemical (like you might find in one of those name brand jugs at the store) or something as simple as hot water or vinegar, the goal is the same – to dissolve some of the grease and sediment that has built up inside your pipe to allow water to flow more freely down through it. A drain cleaner won’t get rid of build up in your pipes, it will just soften it and break it up so that pieces of it can break off and flow out of your pipes.

Depending on what you believe may be down your pipe, there are a number of different products that people claim can help break up things like soap scum, hardened grease, or organic matter. Some people use hot (not boiling) water, vinegar, bleach, or dishwashing soap to try to remove their clog. And while these may work on more mild clogs (the kind that just slow down water flow instead of blocking it) you will almost certainly need another clog removal method, such as plunging, roto rooting, or jetting on a more serious clog. However, please remember that if you choose to pour something down your drain and then try one of these methods it can be extremely dangerous because caustic chemicals like commercial drain cleaner or bleach getting into your eyes or mouth can cause serious health implications.

If you have a clog that’s stopping water from going down your drain, don’t try to pour anything down it. Call a local plumber to come out and fix the problem for you. They have the professional-grade tools needed to get the job done right the first time! Plumbers remove clogs everyday and can get your bathroom, kitchen, or basement plumbing back in order quickly so you can go back to life as usual. If you need a Chicago-area plumber, give us a call today at 1 (800) 674-9130.

Additional resources:
Is Hydro Jetting Better than a Traditional Drain Cleaning?
Roto Rooting versus Hydro Jetting: The Plumbing Showdown
Does Lime Out Unclog a Drain?
How Much does Sewer Line Cleaning Cost?
Do Your Pipes Need Sewer Jetting?
Who does Plumbing Jetting?
A Comparison: Pipe Jetting and Pipe Rodding
Sewer Line Clog Repair Costs
How Will a Plumber Remove a Clog?
How to Unclog a Shower
Plumbers that Clean Out Pipes
Sewer and Drain Cleaning Options
Understanding Hydro Jet Drain Cleaning
The Hydro Jetting Process Explained
Top Drain Cleaning Services
The Best Commercial Drain Cleaning Companies
Drain Cleaning Explanations - Do You Need It?
Do Drain Cleaning Companies Remove Clogs?