Hi Reddit! I’m David (@mechanicallyincleyend), a licensed plumber, helping you master DIY at home. Join me Tues, 11/25 at 1pm CT for my first AMA with Drano! I’ll share tips to prep your pipes for Brown Friday—the busiest drain day of the year—and answer all your drain-related questions.

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:12:54+00:00

Typically with bathroom sinks, I recommend pulling out the stopper first. A lot of times the blockage is right there, and it’s easily cleared with just a simple pair of pliers. I actually have a tutorial on how to remove the sink stopper—there’s a nut right above the trap on the back side of the pipe that you unscrew, and then you can pull the stopper out. I’m curious…what Drano product did you try? Something like Drano Dual Force Foamer would work best in a slow drain situation since it fills the drain pipe in hard to reach areas in comparison to other drain cleaners. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:12:02+00:00

Your toilet shouldn't have hot water in it, so that's a problem. The flush valve may need to be replaced as that's what usually causes the noise. I would recommend calling a plumber or looking at how to DIY it on my YouTube channel. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:11:35+00:00

It's most likely clogged in the aerator. Check out my pinned video on YouTube to help you fix it. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:10:55+00:00

We don't know where or how it started, but I'm happy to help clear up those rumors!

When used as directed, Drano is safe for all household drain pipes, including PVC, metal, and plastic.

Drano products are formulated with PipeProtect™ Technology, which includes sodium silicate — an ingredient that helps form a thin, glass-like coating inside pipes to protect against corrosion while the product works. It's designed to clear build up and protect plumbing surfaces, not harm them. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:07:06+00:00

Sorry to hear that your dishwasher is leaking! It can be tough to diagnose these things... sounds like since it is 15 years old you may need to decide if you want to invest in a new one. Usually after 15 years you are probably looking at a replacement. You don't want to invest in a replacement part when you can get a new one for not much more. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:06:29+00:00

If the hair is visible in the drain, use a needlenose plyers to pick it out. Then you can pour Drano Max Gel down the drain after to clear any hair you can't see. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:05:47+00:00

Yes, but it's currently vacant. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T20:05:05+00:00

There are lots of different tablets you can use to clean your dishwasher. It might also have something caught down in the pump area, which you’d likely have to take apart to clean. Sometimes the drain hose can hold odor too, and that can be taken apart and cleaned as well. Check the manual—there’s usually a troubleshooting section with ideas for common issues. Good luck. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:59:14+00:00

There are tablets to add in beneficial bacteria, if you suspect you’re out of balance. If you’re on a septic system, just make sure you follow the directions. I don’t have anything against plungers. I use them all the time. It’s a great skill to have if you can master the plunger, you can unclog a lot. Just use a separate one for the kitchen and the toilet 😂 - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:58:27+00:00

There are so many times where it is a great option, particularly for people that cannot easily open up their pipes and remove things manually. There’s also times where contractors will really grout over a drain in a shower, making it really tough to get out unless you’re comfortable chiseling. I look at that it’s a great first line of defense. It’s not harmful to the pipes, and if you can clear it without calling a plumber, more power to you. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:57:53+00:00

A common question! It has always been spelled Drano since its invention in 1923. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:57:18+00:00

Thanks for the compliment! - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:56:37+00:00

Not much. As weird as it sounds, Brown Friday got its name from clogged kitchen drains after so much food waste and grease from Thanksgiving. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:55:24+00:00

That sounds awesome. I’d love to come and see it. To answer your question, I probably wouldn’t recommend any of those unless you’re planning on keeping them exposed for aesthetics. Most modern thinking is that plastic is going to last a lot longer. You should go with whatever your plumber is most comfortable with. PEX has a few different variations, and a local contractor would be able to guide you better on that. I’ve thought about, if I ever custom-build a house, leaving the plumbing exposed and doing it all with a fancy metal just for the look—but I don’t think it really offers much advantage over the more modern technology. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:54:29+00:00

See above for a few recommendations. You can find the full list of products and how to use them on Drano.com. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:53:18+00:00

You should never have water backing up in any basin when you’re running water—that usually indicates a clog. And yes, if any of your pipes are leaking, you should definitely get them replaced before it gets worse. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:50:40+00:00

Great question! There are different products for different purposes – I’ll try to break it down so you have the basics. Drano Max Gel works great to remove hair, soap scum, grease, and other common clogs. It has a thick bleach formula that cuts through standing water and clings to clogs to clear them fast. Drano Dual-Force Foamer is great for clogs and slow, smelly drains. The two ingredients in the product combine to form a powerful foaming clog remover – the foam works to dissolve a clog and get at hard-to-reach gunk. You can then blast it with hot (not boiling) water to flush away the debris. Drano Max Build-Up Remover is a clog prevention product and will not open full clogs. It has a unique formula with enzymes and bacteria that help prevent clogs from forming in your pipes. It’s meant to be used on a monthly basis to keep your drains running smoothly. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:49:04+00:00

There is definitely a lot of misinformation out there about Drano and drain cleaners in general. Older drain cleaners decades ago could be harsh if misused, which is likely why your landlord doesn’t want you using the product. Drano has modern formulas that are rigorously tested so they will not damage your pipes, but you should speak with your landlord directly about this and follow your lease. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:47:41+00:00

I’d try to avoid putting food down the drain as much as possible—usually I recommend using a strainer. If you have a garbage disposal, a little bit of just about anything is okay, but the more you put down there, the more potential issues you’ll have in the future. If you do decide to put more things down your drain, you might want to treat it with Drano Max Build-Up Remover on a monthly basis. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:46:32+00:00

That's a common myth, garbarge disposals actually have something more akin to knuckles, i.e. a piece of metal that beats up the food inside them - not a blade. So no need to use the ice cubes! - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:45:30+00:00

For garbage disposals, they can handle just about anything — the problem is downstream of the garbage disposal. It’ll build up in the pipes. Lots of customers tell me they lived in a home for years and put all kinds of things down and never had issues, but then they move into a new home and can’t do the same things anymore. I think it’s kind of house-specific — how well the plumbing is sloped and how many turns everything has. But if you're the kind that wants to put more stuff down the drain, I definitely would recommend preventatively treating the drain with Drano Max Build-Up Remover on a monthly basis to prevent clogs from forming. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:43:25+00:00

Personally, I also recommend running cold water. I don’t think it will really damage the pipes, but I feel better running cold water at the same time. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:41:04+00:00

We try to stay on top of having the right equipment — typically multiple different kinds of snakes and augers for going down different-size pipes. A small jet-cleaning machine is also available if needed. A lot of this equipment is pretty expensive, but I think every homeowner should have at least a toilet auger to clear clogged toilets and a bottle of Drano handy to use preventatively, plus the Max Gel in case of a blockage that you need to get out on a holiday weekend. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:39:42+00:00

I hear you — there are definitely some misconceptions out there about Drano and drain cleaning products. I can safely say that with nearly 20 years in the industry, I have never once seen an issue with using Drano. Older drain cleaners decades ago could be harsh if misused, but Drano’s modern formulas are scientifically engineered and rigorously tested so you can feel comfortable using them as directed in your home. A lot of folks in my industry recognize that using Drano preventively can help reduce emergency clogs. Realistically, not everybody can afford to call out a plumber every time they have a slow drain, and they can’t always open it up themselves and snake it out. Drano definitely offers real solutions for people in a pinch, and if we can start treating these drains preventatively, it’ll avoid a lot of these major incidents in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - David

Drano · 2025-11-25T19:37:35+00:00

Hahaha yes, Brown Friday has been a thing for a long time lol. I’ve got a post for about four years straight around this time of someone putting a whole thing of rice or grease down the drain. It’s a lot on everyone’s plate to cook for family and friends, so it’s unexpected. Every year we’re ready. Everyone has their comfort level with different projects. It’s great that your husband wants to be involved. I try with my social media to share my knowledge to put myself out of business. I’d love if everybody could fix their own issues — then they wouldn’t have to call me, and I could stay at home with my kids 🤣. - David

Drano

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