When you’re a homeowner, what you put down your drains and pipes aren’t usually the first thing that’s on your mind. We use our drains daily and most of the time when it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.

And when you encounter a slow or clogged drain, your first reaction might be to just use a liquid drain cleaner.

While liquid drain cleaners are readily available at any grocer or home improvement store, it’s important to know that some chemicals may be too harsh or could interact negatively with other chemicals.

Why You Should Not Put Harsh Chemicals Down Your Drain

  • Pipes: Over time, pipes can become worn in joints and connectors which can lead to leaks and water damage.
  • Improper disposal: Think before you put anything down your drain other than water. Toxic chemicals can make their way into the water stream and can pose as a potential contaminant. Be sure to dispose of chemicals in the right way. Learn more about safe household chemical disposal from the EPA.
  • Plumbing system: In addition to your pipes, harsh chemicals can put a strain on other areas in your plumbing system.

Do Not Put These Items Down Your Drain

We’ve put together a list to help guide you on what you should not flush down your drain. This includes, but it not limited to:

  • Bio-hazardous waste
  • FOGs - Fats, oils, and grease
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Formaldehyde
  • Paint - oil based or latex

Do Not Mix These Cleaning Products

In addition to being cautious of what you put down your drain, you should never mix these items because they can cause harmful and dangerous toxic gases to release:

  • Vinegar and bleach
  • Ammonia and bleach
  • Bleach and rubbing alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide and bleach
  • Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
  • Drain cleaners combined with other drain cleaners

As a rule of thumb, bleach should not be mixed with anything besides water.

Professional Drain Cleaning In Nashville

The next time you’re in the store, read the warning label on a bottle of liquid plumbing drainer. Often times, those chemicals are equipped to break down organic compounds like hair found in drains and there will be a warning on the bottle to not get on your skin. Does that sound like something you want in your plumbing?

Thankfully, there are other ways to clear clogged drains like using plumber-approved and bio-friendly cleaners, pipe snakes, and hydrojetting.

When liquid clog removal doesn’t work, it’s time to seek professional help. As with any part of plumbing in your home, you want to make sure a licensed and experienced plumber does the work to avoid costly headaches down the road. The punctual plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Nashville are there for you any day of the week to provide prompt drain cleaning repairs and more. Contact our local plumbers today to schedule service!