Nashville Plumbers Blog - Fix It All Plumbing

When to use Drain Cleaner & When to Call The Plumbers

Drano drain Mt. Juliet Plumbers Photo

Clearing that Clog: Should you use Drano®?

So you’ve got a clog in your drain and plunging doesn’t seem to do any good. What do you do? Should you call a plumber or use that commercially prepared drain cleaner (Drano®/Liquid–Plumr®) hiding under your sink? Here are some things to keep in mind….

Metal vs. PVC Pipes

  • Plumbing put in before 1974 used metal pipes.
  • Drain cleaners contain chemicals that eat away at metal pipes.
  • If your home was built before 1974, you must assume that the pipes are metal, unless you, yourself had them changed.

Slow Drains & Efficiency

  • If you have a slow drain, a drain cleaner may help to clear the clog.
  • But if your drain is completely clogged, drain cleaner will not budge the clog.

You need professional licensed plumbers.

Drain Cleaner Safety

  • Drain cleaners are extremely caustic, and need to be used with care.
  • Wear rubber gloves and be careful not to splash.
  • If you have pets or small children having noxious chemicals around is really not a good idea.

So bottom line – if you have a slow moving drain that will eventually let all the water drain away, AND your house is relatively new – feel free to use the drain cleaner to help move things along in your drains. But if nothing is moving in that sink, or you have an older home, call for help.

We hope to earn your business and become your plumbers for life.  Call us at  615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN