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fubo t1_j2f3l80 wrote

They only encounter it when it doesn't work; and it's a hazardous chemical that makes their job harder.

If your sink drain is blocked up, here are some things that could happen:

  1. You just call the plumber.
  2. You try plunging it with a sink plunger; that works. You don't call the plumber.
  3. You try plunging it, but that doesn't work. You call the plumber.
  4. You put drain cleaner down it, and it works. You don't call the plumber.
  5. You put drain cleaner down it, and it doesn't work. You call the plumber.

The plumber only sees cases #1, #3, and #5. They don't see the cases #2 and #4 where you were able to unblock your sink yourself.

The plumber's opinions come from the cases they see:

  • Case #1 is usually a really easy fix.
  • Case #3 is less easy (because the clog is bad enough the plunger didn't work) but still okay.
  • Case #5 is now a sink drain full of nasty chemicals that want to eat organic matter (including plumbers' skin).

So from the plumber's perspective, they'd rather you didn't use drain cleaner. They never see the upside of it (case #4), so for them it's always the absolute worst.

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Some_Unusual_Name t1_j2fpica wrote

I'm a plumber, you're fairly spot on but 5 things to consider.

  1. If a plunger didn't work then draino is unlikely to work as the clog is likely past the trap and vent meaning that the draino will be very diluted if it ever makes its way to the clog. If it's just a slow drain the draino will drain past it and not help.

  2. Draino can weaken pipes. They swear up and down on the bottle that it doesn't, but it does.

  3. People often have leaks under their sink that they didn't know about. Now there is draino covering your cabinet and floor, possibly leaking into the ceiling space of the floor below.

  4. Draino has lye in it, your pipes have fat and grease in them. What do you get when you mix them together? Hard soap. Do it enough and you've made you problem a lot worse, it can also strip the oils from hair and leave behind the protein eventually causing a bigger problem.

  5. It weakens auger cables. Weak auger cables can break off in pipes. Your problem just got a lot worse.

I started with 2 things to consider but more just kept coming to me. Seriously, try plunging, try using a hand held auger, don't pour boiling water into any of your fixtures, baking soda and vinegar won't do anything (but if you insist on trying DO NOT MIX WITH DRAINO)

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Peace_Hopeful t1_j2fsg45 wrote

What's bad about pouring in boiling water?

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legendofthegreendude t1_j2fwhmt wrote

Not a plumber but have done some basic construction work on sites and in houses. A lot of modern plumbing uses PVC pipe or some plastic equivalent. Pouring boiling water into a drain that's clogged shut can trap that water and transfer the heat to the pipe leading it to deform or the joints to come loose.

What I would personally be more worried about is if it's a slower leak. Your drainage pipes have lots of fat and such in them. The hot water will melt or dislodge chunks of it that will reform into a larger problem farther down the pipe.

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Ironfishmonger t1_j2fvwi3 wrote

Sodium Hydroxide gives off a lot of heat when dissolved in water. By giving it a head start with pre-boiled water you risk it splattering and that stuff does not like human skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

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Taleya t1_j2fv9en wrote

Baking soda and vinegar are great if you've got a bit of a stank in your drain, but won't do shit for a clog

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_Forgotten t1_j2fjzaw wrote

And the price difference for a plummer vs draino for when cases 2 and 4 work?

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fubo t1_j2fmbro wrote

Every house & apartment should have a sink plunger and a toilet plunger.

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[deleted] t1_j2fmrs2 wrote

[deleted]

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mkomaha t1_j2flh5m wrote

Yeah confirmation bias is a hell of a thing.

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H4zardousMoose t1_j2fmsd9 wrote

I'd put it more akin to a survivor bias. The issue stems not from them only looking for evidence supporting their opinion, but them not encountering a fair sample. They only see the drain cleaner "survivors", never those that got unclogged.

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fubo t1_j2fm8dx wrote

It's not confirmation bias. They literally do have to deal with a drain full of concentrated flesh-eating chemicals.

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alpacabowlkehd t1_j2fprq7 wrote

You’re probably not gonna get any on you if you use a snake like most plumbers would for a severe clog

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legendofthegreendude t1_j2fx3n7 wrote

Ya but that stuff will eat away at snakes. Not to mention that it still splashes and can get on you fairly easily

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Tallguy67ca t1_j2f0suh wrote

Of the 20 times I have tried Drano, it has only worked once. The other times the plumber now needs to work on a pipe full of caustic chemicals that want to burn the plumber.

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Scott_4560 t1_j2ful98 wrote

You’re clearly a fast learner!

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Tallguy67ca t1_j2fwfnn wrote

Well, I do have an enzyme cleaner that I have been told works well as pm on a problematic section of pipe I have. All I know for certain is that bit keeps alligators away.

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NoSoulsINC t1_j2f04eq wrote

It’s doesn’t solve the problem, at least not long term. The solution is to remove the clog, usually via snake or or auger. Some drain cleaning chemicals can make the clog worse over time or damage pipes. Plumbers would rather be able to fix the problem right away and do it correctly

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roguetrick t1_j2fdek6 wrote

Turning hair into soap removes the clog. There only long term solution is to remove the source of hair, and that's usually illegal.

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The_camperdave t1_j2fi3qp wrote

> There only long term solution is to remove the source of hair, and that's usually illegal.

It may be illegal, but that doesn't stop nature from removing my hair from the source.

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Igottamake t1_j2f4hhg wrote

I don’t even know what an auger is.

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uninvitedfriend t1_j2fa2aw wrote

Auger? I don't even know 'er!

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MyDoggoRocks t1_j2fb944 wrote

Lol. I made a comment like that on r/askmechanics and got banned. Some mods can't take humor.

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5050Clown t1_j2ffrdf wrote

It's a small rodent-like mammal that you push into a drain. They will naturally seek out the clog and eat it. Sometimes people cover them in cocaine and shove them in their butt.

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veemondumps t1_j2f2pmc wrote

Draino used to be made out of lye, which would damage metal pipes and the rubber seals in pvc pipes with normal use. But that's kind of ancient history.

For the past few decades Draino has been made out of bleach. It will dissolve low density clogs, like hair, but isn't particularly effective against solid clogs caused by things like fat.

Its not particularly caustic, so there isn't much of a risk to the plumber's health if they're wearing gloves. But it will dissolve some of whatever was clogging the drain, which usually turns it into a sort of chlorinated poop water. The fact that there will still be some bleach in it also means that if it spills it can ruin/discolor the stuff that it spills onto. Both of which makes it more difficult to work with than just dirty water.

Basically, Draino works on the things that plumbers don't normally get called out for and doesn't work on the things that they do get called out for. If you use Draino on a tough clog, you haven't accomplished much other than to make the repair miserable for the plumber, who has to clean it up afterwards.

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CMG30 t1_j2fnn10 wrote

If you got a fat/grease buildup in a kitchen sink boiling water works. A plunger won't move a fatburg, but given enough time the continued addition of piping hot water will heat the PVC enough to both expand the diameter and melt the fat glued the walls of the pipe.

Of course... Don't dump grease down your sink.

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PortraitOfAHiker t1_j2fq039 wrote

Wouldn't it be the sodium hydroxide that causes concern more than bleach?

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Didgeterdone t1_j2fu7kg wrote

SODIUM HYDROXIDE will clean your drains out for sure.

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biggsteve81 t1_j2fuysc wrote

Some Drano products still contain sodium hydroxide (Hair buster gel, for one). The sodium hydroxide/lye products do a fantastic job of clearing hair clogs, since they dissolve protein and oils.

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amazonfamily t1_j2f0s99 wrote

Drano is a very strong caustic substance that can give chemical burns. It makes the job dangerous for the plumber.

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Same-Reason-8397 t1_j2fm9fn wrote

My easy fix solution is to regularly! pour vinegar and bicarbonate soda down all my drains, including the shower. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then follow with hot water- not boiling as it can crack porcelain. I think I’ve only used my plunger once. My dad was a plumber. Got plenty of tricks of the trade from him.

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PckMan t1_j2fgu4x wrote

It makes their job harder since they not only have to clean a clog but also do it at risk of coming into contact with dangerous chemicals. Also a lot of people are a bit too liberal with their use of chemical clog removers and that can damage piping and cause leaks, especially in the case where you use them but the clog does not clear. Now on one hand for a plumber that's a good thing, because it's expensive to repair, but it's a lot of work, and it's difficult, and people often give plumbers the stink eye for asking for a lot of money without recognizing the fact that they caused the damage.

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jedidoesit t1_j2foytu wrote

I was only an apprentice plumber so any pros can check my answer.

That being said, the company I worked for did only service work, that being only repairs or R&R's when something couldn't be fixed or cleaned out, such as drains.

1/2 of my work in the first 6 months was clearing drains, either by plunger, auger, or taking apart pipes.

I never particularly noticed if a drain had been treated with chemicals, but my company taught me not to use them and to recommend them because they damaged the interior of the pipes leading to further problems such as waste sticking to the scarred inside of the pipe, or even damage that required replacement if the drains at some point.

Nothing was specified to apply only to copper or brass or ABS or PVC, so I can't be more specific about that.

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DrachenDad t1_j2ftdzr wrote

Answer: If Drano is the American analogue of (WCF) Dranex we use over here (a product that can't be sold to the public,) then it's either putting plumbers out of a job or people are using it improperly and destroying their pipework.

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