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What do Plumbers Use for a Drain Clog Remover?

Our customers ask us this question a lot. Sometimes they are referring to liquid clog removing chemicals and other times they are referring to clog removing tools. We’ll answer both questions.

The reason why so many homeowners think liquid clog remover is effective is because the stuff is so common. You can find it at any grocery store or big box store and the advertisements tell you that you can remove your clogs by just dumping it down your drain and never having to do any dirty work. Who wouldn’t love that, right? The problem is that these kinds of clog removers don’t work like they should. Sure, sometimes they’ll dissolve the clog and get the water flowing again. But what you don’t see is that they can also wreak incredible havoc on your pipes. These kinds of chemicals are extremely caustic, that’s why they can eat through clogs so fast, which means that they can significantly damage your pipes, thinning and weakening them over time. Pipes that have liquid clog removers poured down them are far more likely to crack, break, and leak because of the chemical damage that they sustain. And, if you pour this solution into your sink, shower, or toilet and the clog doesn’t budge, now you have an extremely dangerous situation where trying to use tools to remove the clog can cause caustic liquid to splash up on your body and burn you. (In fact, most plumbers have stories of injuries sustained when working on stubborn clogs after homeowners have dumped harmful things down there before calling in a pro to help.) This is why plumbers don’t carry around liquid clog remover and never recommend that homeowners use it. If you are going to pour anything down your drain, try hot (but not boiling) water. The heat should help to dissolve organic matter like soap scum, grease, and toothpaste, loosing up your clog. If the clog remains, the water will cool off, allowing you to work on the clog with tools without any increased danger.

Plumbers do carry tools to work on clogs though. While the location and nature of the clog will dictate which type of tool to use, it is not uncommon to see a plumber with things like a metal toilet auger, plastic sink snake, motorized drill auger, air blaster, or suction device to work on stubborn clogs. These are all tools that plumbers use depending on the severity of the clog to get water flowing again without the use of dangerous chemicals.

If you have a clogged drain, call a local plumber to get it unclogged. A top-rated plumber will have your drain clog removed in no time to get your bathroom back in good working order.

Additional resources:
Don't Do This When Your Drain is Clogged
How does Roto Rooting Work?
The Hydro Jetting Method Explained
How Much is it to Unclog a Drain?
Is it a Plumbing Emergency?
Do You Need Pipe Rodding?
Sewer Rodding Explained
Who does Roto Rooting After Hours?
What do Roto Rooting Services Cost?
How Much is a Sewer Line Clean Out?
DIY Drain Unclogging
Who Cleans Out Drains Locally?
Why do Shower Drains Clog?
Should Your Pipes be Jetted?
Which Plumbing Companies do Sewer Jetting?
Deciding Between Sewer Jetting and Sewer Rodding
What is the Cost to Remove a Sewer Blockage?
How to Remove a Shower Clog