I’ve got a clogged sink, and have been reading the labels on a bunch of different products lately. I’d always assumed that they were a strong acid of sorts, which would dissolve whatever sort of material was built up in the pipes. But I’ve noticed that a lot of these products specify that they’re non-corrosive, so I’m not sure what other sort of mechanism may be at play here.
Well, sometimes they create more problems than they supposedly solve. Chemical cleaners can damage pipes or even harden the clog. And if they don’t work you or a plumber will have a much worse work environment.
If it is actually the trap of your sink that is clogged, open it and remove the dirt. If the clog comes after the trap, hydro-mechanical cleaners are very effective and don’t damage the pipes. Those are basically hoses with a nozzle at one end and a thread for a pressure washer (expensive) or a faucet (cheap) on the other end. You push the hose into the pipe until it reaches the clog, then turn on the water and the water jet carves a hole into the clog. Very effective in my experience. The pressure washer will get rid of pretty much everything found in pipes, except roots and concrete. Even the cheap faucet type thing is good for the usual clogged sink.
This is really only the case if you use them incorrectly. Most people are not too bright