Top Reasons Why DIY Drain Cleaning Is A Bad Idea

It is not uncommon for drains in a home to develop clogs or begin to drain slowly. When this happens, many homeowners are tempted to try to deal with the issue on their own and undertake DIY drain cleaning methods. In the majority of cases, this is not a good idea and can potentially do more harm than good. When one or more drains in your home are experiencing a problem, your best option is to contact a qualified plumber to schedule professional drain cleaning services. Some of the top reasons to avoid DIY drain cleaning to deal with a drain clog or slow draining include the following:

Drain Cleaners are Not Very Effective

If you head to a home improvement or big box store, you may see multiple liquid drain cleaners that promise to eliminate all drain problems. In reality, these drain cleaners are usually not very effective at all. You may think that you notice an improvement after using them, but they usually only help mask the symptoms of a clogged drain instead of solving a problem. In addition, liquid drain cleaners are not cheap; if you have to purchase multiple bottles of liquid drain cleaner because the issue is not fixed, you just end up wasting money. You are much better off avoiding purchasing liquid drain cleaners and using the money you save to hire a plumber.

Damage to Your Plumbing System

In addition to not being effective, using liquid drain cleaners too often can potentially cause problems with your plumbing system and damage your pipes. If you're already dealing with a blocked or clogged drain, the last thing you want is to have to face additional plumbing problems in the future. Liquid drain cleaners can be highly corrosive and the damage caused can be hard to correct. It is also not a good idea to use other methods of drain cleaning if you don't know what you are doing.

Storing Dangerous Chemicals

Liquid drain cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can be quite dangerous for pets and children. If you purchase a big bottle of liquid drain cleaner, or multiple bottles, and you don't use it all, you will need to worry about storing it safely. There is no reason to keep toxic chemicals around your home when you don't need them. A plumber will be able to solve your drain issues with one visit, and you won't have to deal with storing dangerous chemicals in your house.

Contact a plumber who offers drain cleaning near you in order to learn more.