Yes, it is possible for drain cleaners to end up making a clog worse. This can happen for a few reasons. First, the chemicals in drain cleaners can corrode pipes and cause damage over time. This can lead to leaks or even bursting, which can make a clog worse by creating additional blockages.
Although plumbing chemicals like Drano are designed to break up clogs and clear your pipes, they often make a clog worse for homeowners.
Drano is Often a Temporary Fix
Thusly, if you choose to use Drano on a clogged sink and the clog returns, do not continue to pour Drano down your sink. Doing so could cause your pipes to melt, causing costly damage to your home's plumbing.
Plunge it Out
When Drano won't go down the drain, grab a plunger instead. Many people think that these are only good for toilets. However, they can create suction that can dislodge your clog. Make sure that you get a plunger that can seal all the way around your drain.
Drain cleaners can work, but they can work too well. They're a helpful tool when used to clear food, hair, and grease from drains. But they can also make matters worse by creating clogs or causing damage to your home, body, and surrounding environment.
The chemicals in the product are designed to break own the clog, but if left for too long, they can start to break down the pipes themselves. This can lead to cracks and leaks in the pipes, leading to various issues, including water damage and flooding.
Plumbers will first place the end of the cable in the opening of the drain. They will use the crank to push the cable through the drain. When they reach the clog, they will maneuver the cable until they break through the clog.
Just pour a small amount of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. As the baking soda and vinegar start to work, you will hear a fizzing noise. Leave for a few minutes, and use hot water to wash the mixture down the drain. Another method is to use soda crystals to unblock the sink.
I have standing water. What do I do? Try Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover. It is a gel formulated thick enough to easily pour through water straight to the clog, dissolving it fast.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.
Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.
Drain cleaner can linger in your pipes far after even a single-use. This can open up the possibility of other chemical cleaners reacting with it and creating harmful fumes. The chemicals in the product can also pose a major threat to the health and safety of anyone working with it. Drano is caustic.
Also, use Drano® Max Build-Up Remover in each of your drains on a monthly basis. It's made of enzymes that remove gunk that can lead to a clog.
Surprisingly, snaking your main line can potentially make the clog worse. The snake could pack the clog in even tighter, meaning your plumber may have to remove that section of the pipe.
Not only will it not fix your clog, but it will actually make it worse. Over time, drano can harden and become like cement. This will eventually require much more expensive repairs. It is recommended to use a camera and a snake to attack the cause of the clog.
We recommend trying another bottle of this product. However, if the problem continues to persist, you should call a plumber, as there are some plumbing situations that even Liquid-Plumr cannot fix. Know when to call a plumber for clogged drains.
Clogs can also be caused by buildup in the third, lateral section of the pipe. Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover is effective on these clog types as well. Keep some on hand for its reliable clog-busting power!
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
If your blocked sink drain isn't affected by off-the-shelf products, you may need a professional sink blockage cleaning. A qualified plumber will access the deepest crevices where more sludge and gunk may be hiding. During a professional sink blockage cleaning, your plumber will likely disassemble the pipes.
You'll be pleased to know that a standard blockage, caused by flushing inappropriate materials or too much toilet roll, will unblock itself eventually. Although, bear in mind that the problem will continue until you've had your drains jetted or rodded to remove any leftover obstructions.
Minerals
One of the most common causes of clogged drains is actually caused by the minerals in the water. Hard water is full of minerals that build up and easily prevent drainage in your pipes. The best solution is to have a water softener installed in your home.
Generally speaking, you're usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside of property boundaries, and sewers. Although most sewers are now publicly owned, there are still some private or unadopted sewers.
Bottom line: Liquid Plumr and Drano should be used sparingly, if ever. That said, using a chemical drain cleaner once or twice probably won't result in significant damage, but you are taking a risk every time you use one.