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Can I Use Chemical Drain Cleaners Safely?

You’ve got a slow drain, the sink’s filling up again, and there it is—the bottle of drain cleaner under the counter. The label says it’ll clear things “in minutes.” It’s tempting. You think, what’s the harm? Just pour it in and let it work.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Tacoma, we get why you’d want the quick fix. No one likes dealing with a clog. But here’s the truth: chemical drain cleaners do more harm than good. They might clear things out for now, but over time they eat away at your pipes, damage seals, and can even create dangerous fumes.

Why Chemical Cleaners Are Bad News

Those store-bought cleaners are powerful because they’re made with harsh acids and lye that react with whatever’s in your pipes. That reaction creates heat—and that heat can warp or weaken the pipe itself.

Here’s what happens when you use them often:

Metal pipes corrode from the inside out.
Plastic pipes soften or crack where the cleaner sits too long.
Toxic fumes can irritate your lungs or eyes, especially in small bathrooms.
Splash damage can ruin sinks, chrome finishes, and flooring.

And if you ever mix two different kinds by mistake? That’s a chemical reaction you don’t want happening in your home.

So yeah—they work. But at a cost.

Better, Safer Options

If you’ve got a clog, here are a few ways to deal with it without damaging your plumbing:

Try a plunger first. It’s low-tech, but it works surprisingly well if you can get a good seal.
Use a drain snake or auger. It physically removes the clog instead of dissolving it.
Choose enzyme-based cleaners. These use natural bacteria to eat away organic buildup safely over time.
And whatever you do—don’t keep pouring more chemicals if the first round doesn’t work. That’s when people end up with pipe damage or toxic fumes.

When It’s Time to Call a Plumber

If you’ve tried plunging and snaking, and your drains still back up—or if multiple drains are slowing down at once—that’s a bigger issue. It usually means there’s a blockage deeper in the main line.

That’s when it’s time to call 2 Sons Plumbing Tacoma. We use professional tools that clear clogs without hurting your pipes.

Snaking usually runs between $200 and $600 depending on the length and severity.

Hydro jetting—a high-pressure cleaning method—costs $600 to $1,200, but it clears the entire line and keeps things flowing for years.

We can also run a camera inspection to make sure the clog’s gone and your pipes are still in good shape.

Call 2 Sons Plumbing Tacoma

Before you reach for that bottle, give us a call. 2 Sons Plumbing Tacoma at (206) 487-1757. We’ll take care of the clog the right way—no harsh chemicals, no pipe damage, no fumes making your house smell like a science lab.

That “quick fix” under the sink might seem like the easy way out, but it’s the kind of shortcut that can come back to bite you with a big repair bill later.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

Based on 3330 reviews

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Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Our house decided to replace our own toilet, but we got stuck halfway through because we didn’t have the right tools and accidentally broke an anchor bolt. I called 2 Sons Plumbing, and they showed up within an hour to help us out. Derek, our plumber, was super friendly, explained everything clearly, and got the job done quickly and professionally. Excellent service all around—highly recommend!

Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Dave and David came and cleared out a huge clog in my kitchen sink (both sides) that has been plaguing us for a while as well a ton of glass shards that got into the drain when our glass fridge shelf broke. Dave walked us through each step of the process and explained everything which was excellent. He also gave us advice about galvanized piping replacement. They even gave us a few free parts for the sink drain that had eroded away and didn’t charge extra for it!! All around 5 star service!!!

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Fantastic service and communication. Local company. Solved my clogged basement laundry utility sink. Dave and David were courteous, informative, professional and easy to engage with. Scheduling was easy (they came the next day) and they arrived within the expected time window. Transparent pricing and i could also apply a coupon. I will use them again.

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Great service and Dave their plumber is the best. We have an odd house with even odder plumbing. The pipes are a mess of grandfathered-in open air nonsense, when our pump started making some noises (and a little leaking) after some DIY heat tape adventures (getting ready for colder weather), we were worried that we would need a massive repair but Dave came and looked at it and immediately realized we had unplugged the float plug from the pump plug which was 90% of the problem and the leak just need a little tightening of a flex joint. The company was quick and didn't charge for an estimate or in this case a quick "thats not plugged in right". The experience and the overall professionalism has convinced me that when I do finally need that big repair job, I'll call these guys.

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

Booking an appointment was extremely easy, and we were able to get one just the next day. Communication was excellent with timely reminders and a call before our appointment. Kerry did a fantastic job both advising us and effectively resolving our issue.

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

I have all good things to say about 2 Sons Plumbing. My first experience was a few years ago and the whole process went very smoothly. Making the appointment was easy and quick, the repair was done with no problem and I thought the price was fair. Recently, Dave from 2 Sons came out to look at several plumbing problems I was having and, within a matter of minutes, all of the problems were diagnosed. Dave gave me options and estimates all before he left my house. I haven’t had the work done yet but appreciate the information and the prices seemed fair to me. Dave was on time, professional and very knowledgeable. 2 Sons are my go to Plumbers.

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Bob at 2 Sons Plumbing was amazing! We had a horribly backed up kitchen sink drain and he was able to fix it, and save us some money in the process! He heard what we had to say about our issue and double checked everything. Super friendly and very helpful. Thank you for the amazing work Bob!

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

I had great experience with Chase, Riley, Seth, Manu, Nolan with a recent fix. They showed up promptly, transparent about the price upfront, set the expectations right, very professional, got things done perfectly, great communication and very honest and patient to answer all my questions, I will definitely use 2 sons again and will recommend it to my friends and neighbors.

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

Stellar job by Carey and his team at 2sons today. I had a complex job -- installing a yard hydrant/faucet for a garden across the (private) street. They had to go into the floor of the garage, run piping under the floor, out of the house, across the road. Had to cut into the asphalt, trench down a couple feet, then patch it all up again, including fixing the garage concrete floor. Super job. Looks really clean. Got it all done in a day.

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25

A wonderful experience every time with 2 Sons plumbing. Jake and Angelo helped us with our plumbing issue. They showed up on time and gave a very reasonable estimate for the repair. We ended up replacing a couple of toilets and a part of a sink drain. They came back the next day to complete the work due to our schedule. Excellent communication, prompt, and hard working! Thank you so much Jake and Angelo!! We are very happy with 2 Sons and have used them multiple times.

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25