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It has happened yet again; a drain in your house has become plugged up, again.
Whether it is your toilet or kitchen sink, this situation is annoying and you would rather not call the plumber.Lucky for you, many products claim to unclog your drains.
Two of the more popular and recognizable brands of drain cleaners are Drano and Liquid Plumber. While both products may seem similar, some differences separate the two products from each other.
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Similarities
There are many similarities between Drano and Liquid Plumr. These similarities include:
- Easy-to-follow directions
- Both products are available in most stores
- Both products usually under $20, depending on the store
Drano vs Liquid Plumr – Key differences
Despite the similarities, the products have differences as well.
- Ingredients—While both Drano and Liquid Plumr share many of the same active ingredients, Drano has an active ingredient that is not in Liquid Plumr—sodium silicate. Sodium silicate is a chemical compound used for commercial purposes such as detergents, adhesives, and water treatment. Drano uses this ingredient to help clean drains, but sodium silicate turns into a liquid glass if it reacts with other chemicals
- Products—Drano has a wider range of products compared to Liquid Plumr. While that is not a bad thing for Liquid Plumr, this range of Drano products allows people to try a product made specifically for his or her drain problem. Though Liquid-Plumr may lack having a range of products for specific situations, the few products from this brand are either the classic version or a pro-strength version that comes in many forms, mainly liquid or foam
Drano
Click to see moreThe great thing about Drano is that it is made to produce less foam compared to its competitors
If you have a problem with standing water, the gel version of Drano is great to use as the product claims that it is thicker. Whether that is true or not depends on perspective, but it’s worth a shot to see if it does work.
Since clogged pipes can happen anywhere in the house, it is great to know that Drano has different products that can help you.
- Formulated thick to dissolve the tough clogs fast
- Cuts through standing water straight to the clog
- Safe on PVC, metal pipes, garbage disposals and septic systems
- More than just a hair clog remover - guaranteed to work or your money...
- Removes and cleans clogs in all bathtubs, showers, and sinks
Kitchen sinks and toilets, as we all know, are two of the most common systems that always seem to back up. Having a product that is designed to clean the pipes of these two systems is amazing for those who do not want to call a plumber.
As stated earlier, Drano contains sodium silicate which is known for being a liquid glass, and certain types of chemicals are known for reacting with sodium silicate. So, if you have used other pipe-cleaning products right before using Drano, it can cause this reaction to happen.
PVC pipes cannot handle Drano due to the liquid-glass reaction. If you have PVC piping do not use Drano as it will do more damage to your pipes.
For PVC pipes, it’s recommended to use a drain snake when possible. What is a drain snake and how do you use it? Find out more in our drain snake guide.
Liquid-Plumr
- DESTROYS CLOGS: Liquid-Plumr Heavy Duty Clog Remover gets to work...
- KITCHEN USE: For use in commercial and industrial kitchen sinks and...
- RESTROOM USE: Ready-to-use formula is safe for bathtubs, showers and...
- ODOR ELIMINATOR: Safe for disposals, septic tanks and plastic pipes,...
- GREAT FOR COMMERCIAL USE: From Clorox Commercial Solutions ,...
Always read the back label and instructions
Reading the label on the back of product where the instructions are located is quite obvious, but some people do not do this. Reading any instructions and warnings are important since there are many dangers of using both Drano and Liquid-Plumr.
These dangers include:
- Health hazards
- Hazardous gasses
- Danger to your pipes
If you use too much of either product, there is a chance that you might actually damage your pipes.
This is especially true if you use Drano due to the sodium silicate.
There are many health hazards associated with using Drano and Liquid-Plumr.
Both products are poisonous, it is dangerous to come into direct contact with it; if it touches your skin or splashes your eye, it can burn you.
You should read the first-aid directions on the product to know what to do if the product gets on your skin or eyes.
Hazardous gasses are created when you mix either product with different chemicals such as ammonia. It is important that you do not use two different drain products at the same time because hazardous gases will be produced.
Choosing between Drano or Liquid-Plumr
If you want a cleaner that is safe for all pipes and general use, you should probably pick Liquid-Plumber.
However, if you want a product that is for a specific use, you should buy a Drano product. For example, if your kitchen sink is backed up, you can use Drano Kitchen Sink.
The kitchen sink Drano is specifically made for this situation and is a great substitute for Liquid-Plumr.
The two products are similar, but you should decide which product you want to use for your drain problem.
Please remember from above, you should not use Drano and Liquid-Plumr at the same time since it can cause a hazardous gas to form.
Despite the fact both Drano and Liquid-Plumr are similar, Drano has an extra active ingredient that differentiates it from Liquid-Plumr.
While there are many pros and cons to both products. Make sure you know what type of pipes you have and select the product that is suitable for you.
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The description of Drano Max Gel Clog Remover states that the product is “safe on PVC, metal pipes, garbage disposals and septic systems”, but further down in the description of Drano, it states that “PVC pipes cannot handle Drano due to the liquid-glass reaction. If you have PVC piping do not use Drano as it will do more damage to your pipes”…These two statements are contradictory…How do I know whether to use it or not?
Thanks for pointing out the error. We’ve updated the article with updated information and looked additional expert opinions. Both are safe for PVC pipes when used as directed. The better approach to most clogs would be the use of a drain snake.