Is Drano Safe For Septic Systems?

Is Drano Safe For Septic Systems?

Septic system maintenance is one of the most overlooked aspects of household plumbing and home maintenance. The monthly or annual services performed by a professional plumber and septic system service company may seem like an added expense to homeowners. Still, it's an investment in the life span of your home's septic system. Proper septic system maintenance and care ensure that your home's plumbing operations will work properly for years to come. Several factors affect the lifespan of your septic system, one of the most important being how often you perform essential septic system pumping and maintenance and avoid using products such as Drano. Metro Septic Pumping can help with unclogging pipes and whether or not Drano should be used.

How Does Drano Work?

Drano is used to unblock plumbing and drain lines in homes. The active ingredient, sodium hydroxide, breaks down organic materials such as grease, tissue paper, and hair, which build up pipes and cause blockages. These properties have made Drano the market leader for decades.

How Important Is Septic Bacteria?

Septic bacteria break down waste materials in the septic tank so that they can be safely released into the ground when you pump out your septic tank. If you have a backup, there's a good chance that the pipes are clogged with grease or solid waste materials. This means that instead of breaking down as designed, these solid materials will stay in your pipes until you can get them unclogged by a professional septic service provider like Metro Septic Pumping.

Drano and Septic Systems

Sodium hydroxide is corrosive and may damage pipes or other materials if left in contact for long periods or if the concentration levels are too high. Therefore, it is not recommended for septic systems unless you have no other choice (such as when there has been a sewage backup).

Alternatives To Unclog Pipes

Instead of using Drano on your pipes, there are other ways to unclog them:

• Baking soda and vinegar. You can pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar, to create a chemical reaction that breaks down any grease or soap scum in the pipes. This is a good solution if you want to avoid harsh chemicals and do not mind getting your hands dirty.
• Boiling water. Boiling water will also work to break up any grease build-up that may be causing problems with your plumbing system. Pour boiling water down the drain, followed by cold water, to rinse away any residue left behind after the boiling water has done its job.

Metro Septic Pumping

Drano is meant to break down the biodegradable gunk in your drains that other chemicals and products will leave behind. It contains acids, with phosphoric being the sanitizer, which breaks down the grease and hardens as a toilet blockage cleaner to pass through the system, putting it out of sight for good. The manufacturer of Drano claims it is safe for septic systems, but plumbers know otherwise, which seems to be a universal opinion.