Dealing with a clogged drain?

 

If you’re having plumbing issues with your kitchen or bathroom sink, your first instinct may be to head to the grocery store to grab a bottle of name-brand drain cleaner. However, these products may not be the safest for you and your family. To make sure that your family is not exposed to dangerous chemicals, it’s best to call on a professional plumber who can unclog the drain using natural methods.

Traditional drain cleaners are very harmful to the environment. This is because treatment plants can’t break down the hazardous wastes in the detergent. This means the chemicals stay in the air and environment, and flow into lakes and rivers.

Also, sulfuric acid and lye are common ingredients in drain cleaners. These substances can cause burns and irritation on the skin, as they are used to corrode the contents in the drain that are causing the clog. It’s not safe to look down the drain once you have poured the cleaner in, as the lye or sulfuric acid in the detergent can sting the eyes and cause the skin to become itchy. According to the ZipIt Clean website, 1700 individuals sustain injuries every year as a result of using drain cleaner; some of these injuries include blindness.

To avoid the dangers and health hazards that come with using most store-bought drain cleaners, calling a plumber to take a look at your pipes is the best idea. In the meantime, use natural methods to keep the drain from clogging, like combining one part baking soda with two parts apple cider vinegar and pouring the solution down the drain. A cup of lemon juice with two or three tablespoons of baking soda can also unclog the drain temporarily. If you decide to use either of these remedies, be sure to flush the drain with hot water for best results until the plumber arrives.

Have a clogged drain in the Little Rock area? Contact Arrow Plumbing at(501) 588-3200 and schedule a service call today!