It’s usually misuse or a foreign object in the system that causes clogs and with the exception of toilets, the drains that most commonly stop up are the small drains – tubs, showers, bathroom sinks (called lavs), and kitchen sinks. The vast majority of the time if you keep the ‘P’ Trap clean, (done manually, as needed) the drain won’t clog. And if there is a stoppage, I recommend clearing it with a mechanical snake or jetting it first, and then perhaps treating the drain with the proper chemical for maintaining the drain – especially if the clog was hair, soap scum or roots.
While I never recommend using a chemical to clear a clogged drain, I know a lot of people use them. So, I’ll briefly explain what chemicals are on the market to address various clogs, and how they’re best used in your home. NOTE: “Degreasing” solutions are now banned by most municipalities, so they shouldn’t be used anymore, and I won’t include them.
Keep in mind that ALL chemical drain cleaners are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and should NEVER be used without full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), including thick gloves, good eye goggles and a full face shield.
Sodium Hydroxide or Phosphorus Hydroxide / Lye-Based Products
Marketed as:
- Drain-O
- Open Wide
- Glug
These products are very strong ‘base’ (as opposed to ‘acid’) or caustic soda and marketed both retail and commercial to ‘clear clogs’ as powders, liquid or gels. If the clog is not too far away from where the chemical is introduced into the drain and it doesn’t have to go through lots of standing water to get to the clog in the drain, these products can work well on hair and soap scum. I use it on those (after snaking the drain mechanically), but it’s not very effective on other types of clogs. Extreme care should be used when applying these products; they can be very harmful to people and fixtures.
Recommendation: Lye based products are best used and should mainly be used to maintain drains that accumulate hair and/or soap scum. Two tablespoons down a bathroom sink, tub or shower drain each month can be very helpful in keeping the ‘P-traps’ clear of clogging.
Sulfuric Acid Based Products
Marketed as:
- Drain Snake
- Liquid Snake
- Clobber
Any of the stronger, acid-based products that stink like sulfur are sulfuric acid based. These can work best on organic clogs like food and grease, with the same limitations as the lye-based products on application. However, the best you can usually hope for is that the acid will eventually run down the center of the pipe and burn a hole through the clog. It doesn’t clear it or do much of anything on the sidewalls. Extreme care should be used when applying these products; they can be very harmful to people and piping and fixtures. And, if a sulfuric acid based product is used on a clogged drain and it doesn’t work, it will then ruin any cable-type drain cleaning tools that are put into it afterwards, making the metal very brittle and weak in just a few days. The next time the cable is used, it usually breaks.
Recommendation: I don’t use or recommend these products; not even for maintaining drains.
Hydrochloric (Muriatic) Acid Based Products
Marketed as:
- D.E. Cleaner
- Ice Maker Line cleaner
These muriatic acid based products works best on clogs and slow drains caused by urine salts, hard water, and/or ice machine slurry/waste. Like the lye-based products mentioned above, they can be very helpful in keeping urinals and icemaker drains clear when applied regularly every month.
Recommendation: These products are safe and effective for keeping urinals and icemaker drains clear if used carefully. They should be used to maintain a drain, not clear it.
Herbicide-Based Root Killer Products
Marketed as:
- RootX
- Foaming Root Killer
Like other chemicals, these products don’t ‘clear clogs’ well, but when used properly after removing roots by jetting or a cable-tool I have seen them very effective in keeping the roots from growing back into the pipe. We use RootX as directed, annually, and have seen it work safely and very well. These are reasonably safe for pipes and people, however, you will have to eventually repair your pipe by digging and replacing or re-lining it. Once a root ‘finds’ a pipe that is leaking, it will never abandon that water source…ever!
Recommendation: These products should not be used to clear a drain, but can prevent roots from growing back into your pipe after the root has been removed by other means. It’s effective for maintenance.
Bacteria/Enzyme-Based Products
Marketed:
- Bio-Clean
- Zyme
These ‘recent’ additions to the drain-cleaning chemical market are taking advantage of the ‘green’ movement and gaining popularity. I have not seen any work well that claim to clear a clogged drain, but rather work best for maintaining drains and septic systems that are still working. These products are normally fairly effective in that regard, and extremely safe to use compared to the chemical counterparts.
Recommendation: We use and recommend Bio-Clean for maintenance on cleared drains and on septic system maintenance. It’s extremely effective if applied properly and, given enough time it’s effective on most any ‘slow drain’ problem caused by all 3 categories of clogs. It is also very safe to use around people and pipes. We also use Bio-Clean in a crawlspace when a broken pipe has been dumping sewage and a lot of waste has built up. The water/liquid needs to be pumped out/removed first, and then if what is left is ‘dusted’ with Bio-Clean and kept moist, I’ve seen solids and paper dissolved into a powdery residue in just a few weeks.
If you’ve got a plumbing issue, Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating will give you the honest answers and high-quality service you deserve. Contact them today at 425-775-6464 to discuss your concerns and schedule an appointment.
by Bruce Davis, Sr.
Since 1954, Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating, a family owned and operated company, has been meeting the plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning needs of homeowners and businesses in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Whether you have a plumbing emergency, or you need a heating and cooling home comfort system, “Do it Right! Call them anytime “Day or Nite”. Be sure to browse here for in-depth answers to homeowner’s top plumbing and heating questions, or send your own questions directly to the experts.
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