The Shocking Truth About Chemical Drain Cleaners, According to a Plumber

CNET

5 days ago

A clogged shower is the pits, especially when you're trying to get clean and find yourself knee-deep in filthy water. You might be tempted to grab a bottle of chemical goo promising "instant clog annihilation," but a plumber we spoke to said to hold your fire. You might be throwing out the pipes with the bathwater, so to speak.
To find the best and safest way to send those mystery clogs packing, we called on Erik Gitli, a New York-licensed master plumber and owner of Aladdin Plumbing Corp (yes, he grants plumbing wishes -- but only the reasonable ones).
"We're not fans of putting chemicals down the drain," Gitli says. "They may say they're safe, but they've still got enzymes and other scary stuff that can chew away at your pipes."
And if that wasn't enough to scare you straight, Gitli adds that chemical clog-busters can be dangerous for plumbers who eventually have to get in there and deal with the mess -- chemicals and all. "Most of the time, they don't even break through the really nasty clogs," he says. Translation: you're pouring money (and possibly your functional pipes) down the drain.
What is the best way to unclog a shower drain?
Snaking
If it is a hairball that is clogging your drain, there is one relatively simple way to try and clear it.
The master plumber we spoke to suggests a drain snake over harsh chemicals.
Lowe's
"Snaking is the way that we clean a good amount of the blockages in showers most of the time, because a lot of the time it is clumped up hair that's not going to get taken out any other way," Gitli says.
You can purchase a simple drain snake for as little as $3 or bag a three-pack of plastic snakes for less than $15 A hand-crank snake, which Gitli recommends for homeowners costs around $20. However, if you use these, there is one thing to keep in mind, especially if you live in an apartment building.
"In bigger buildings, there are back-to-back bathrooms that could cause a problem if you start snaking," Gitli warns. "You could put a snake down into your tub drain, and it could literally go over into the other apartment and pop up right out of their tub."
So, if you do use a snake, stay aware of how far you are putting the snake into the drain to avoid any issues.
Plunging
Plunging the shower drain is another chemical-free way to get things moving.Another option for a clogged drain is to try and plunge it.
"You're not going to pull anything out when you plunge it, so you could temporarily clear the stoppage if you loosen whatever's in there and it just moves down the line a little bit, but then could eventually clog up again," Gitli says. "So depending on what's clogging it, plunging could help, but it might be only a temporary solution."
If snaking the drain and plunging it still doesn't seem to do the trick, your best bet is to contact a local plumber who can discover what is clogging the drain and use stronger tools to get the job done if needed.
Read more: This Is Why You Should Never, Ever Pour Grease Down the Drain
How to prevent a clogged shower drain
A hair catcher will do wonders in keeping your shower drain free of clogs.
shingopix/Getty Images
Because shower drains have a tendency to get hair build-up, the best thing to use is a hair catcher, Gitli says.
There are numerous affordable options to pick from online depending on what you prefer and what size drain you have, and coming from personal experience, this simple solution can save you a lot of time and lower-back pain.