No one wants to start brushing their teeth or washing their hands only to realize their sink drain is clogged. It’s gross, it’s annoying, and it’s definitely inconvenient.

There are many drain cleaners you can buy at the store for a quick fix but using those can eventually cause more harm than good. Here are some reasons why you should not use store-bought drain cleaners to fix your drain clogs.

How Chemicals Can Affect Your Pipes

When you use these drain cleaners, they come with caustic chemicals inside them. These chemicals can actually cause your pipes to weaken over time if you keep using the drain cleaners. The chemicals work to break up the clog, but the reaction generated when these chemicals mix releases heat. If you have PVC pipes this especially is harmful to them.

Sometimes, the chemicals don’t work so well and can just end up sitting in your pipes. As they weaken, the potential for them to burst increases.