Other DIY drain opening tools and methods may work, at least sometimes. But they can also be risky, expensive, or both.
Drano, Liquid Plumr and other chemical drain cleaners: The plumber’s attitude towards these caustic concoctions is similar to the doctor’s advice about alcoholic drinks: in moderation, they are usually good, but sometimes lead to disastrous consequences, so you should look for better ways to solve your problems. Chemical drain cleaners should be “the method of last resort,” said Paul Abrams, director of public relations for national plumbing company Roto Rooter.
Chemical cleaners can be used occasionally when the wash is running slowly but does not stop. They’re much more dangerous when the sink is completely blocked: if they can’t dissolve the clog, you’ll be stuck with a drain line full of bleach, lye, or acid. (Enzyme-based formulations are safer, but they generally aren’t effective on severe clogs, Williams says.)
Sean Comerford, manager of Oatey, a leading pipe manufacturer, said the company does not recommend using chemical drain cleaners on a completely clogged drain: “Without water flow, the chemicals will remain in the pipe assembly, potentially damaging plumbing components and creating a safety hazard for those later dismantling the drain to unclog the clog.”
Manufacturers of popular drain cleaners claim that their products are safe for your plumbing. Most formulations contain a corrosion inhibitor, which should temporarily protect the pipes from chemical damage. And given how often these solutions are used, it is clear that exposure of 15 to 30 minutes will not immediately destroy most types of pipes, gaskets or sealants.
When plumbers blame chemical drain cleaners for broken pipes, often “the underlying factors are factors such as age-related wear, corrosion or worn-out components,” said Kate Biberdorf, a chemistry professor at the University of Notre Dame, in a statement on Drano’s behalf.
Even if chemical cleaners simply speed up existing pipe failures, this does not eliminate the risk that you will have to clean up caustic debris. So proceed with caution.
Hot water: This power Rinse greasy clogs in the kitchen sink with water running slowly. (Hornick said adding a few drops of dish soap should help.) But Abrams noted that softening the grease with hot water simply moves the clog further into the drain line. He compared fat to candle wax: when heated, it turns into a liquid, but when cooled, it coagulates again over time.
Boiling water is especially dangerous. It can damage the surface of acrylic sinks and potentially chip natural stone, Abrams says. Williams noted that unless the clog is grease, boiling water won’t help at all and may even damage plastic pipes and their seals. Therefore, unless you are sure that all your pipes are made of metal, it is better to abandon this tactic.
Vinegar + baking soda: Opinions are divided on this classic panacea. Abrams said it can be helpful, and the Internet is full of success stories. But Hornik said she’s seen cases where the vinegar didn’t completely saturate the baking soda, and a clump of dry powder only made the clog worse.
When you mix these two ingredients, the resulting liquid is essentially salt water, which is not an effective cleaning solution. As a result of the reaction, a certain amount of gas is also released, which power remove a few small blockages. But if air pressure is a factor here, one might assume that a piston will give better results.
Air guns and garden hose cylinders: They haven’t been mentioned in my conversations with plumbers, although they are common in trick videos. They work like heavy-duty plungers, relying on pressure to flush out clogs. But good air guns cost hundreds of dollars, and tanks are harder to set up and don’t always work.
So, if you’ve drained, submerged your basin, and disassembled your P-trap without success, it’s time to call a professional. Some clogs are too deep and too stubborn to be cleared with simple tools. The best drainage services can inspect your system with a camera and thoroughly clear almost any clog.
This article was edited by Katie Okamoto and Harry Sawyers.
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