Liquid vs. Powder Drain Openers

Drain openers are chemicals designed to unclog your drain, typically coming in the form of a liquid or a powder. You’re dealing with the headache of a drain clog right now, so the last thing you want to do is become an internet sleuth just to figure out whether a liquid or a powder is best for you.

At State Chemical, we manufacture and sell three different chemical drain openers, including two liquid options and one granular option. We understand that it can be hard to know what kind of drain opener is right for you, so we’ve written this article to examine the differences between liquid and powder so that you don’t have to.

After reading, you’ll know whether liquid chemicals or powder are better for your situation based on the following criteria:

• Safety
• Cost effectiveness
• Severity of issue
• Ease of use

What are Liquid and Powder Drain Openers?

Before anything else, let’s establish what we mean when we say liquid and powder drain openers.

Liquid drain openers can be caustic or acid. You use them by pouring them down the drain, where they will melt clogs if they are acidic or generate heat to push them through the pipeline if they are caustic.

Powder drain openers are more accurately referred to as granular drain openers since the particles are usually a bit too large to be classified as powder. They are almost always caustic rather than acid. When you want to use this option, you’ll scoop the recommended amount of powder out of the bottle and put it down your drain. It will sink to the source of the clog and generate heat to push the clog out.

Which is Safer: Liquid or Powder Drain Openers?

Often, the biggest concern when it comes to chemicals is the obvious: how safe is this to use? When it comes to drain openers, this concern might also extend to your pipes.

Will Liquid and Powder Drain Openers Harm the User?

For the user, powder drain openers are usually considered safer than liquid drain openers. When you use any kind of chemical drain opener, it will create a chemical reaction when it reaches the clog. If your drain opener is liquid, this reaction can sometimes be violent since the liquid may splash back when it hits the clog (something a granular shouldn’t do since it has more weight). When this kind of splash back happens, it can burn your skin, even if you’re wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

On the other hand, powder chemicals don’t risk this kind of splash back, meaning they pose less danger to the user. Additionally, powders are not activated until they get wet, so you usually aren’t at much risk if you accidentally come into contact with them while using.

However, this only applies when the chemicals are used properly. If granular drain openers are misused, you could risk serious injuries. Granular drain openers tend to be composed of sodium hydroxide, which generates heat when wet. If you use more than directed, this could generate harmful splash back like a liquid.

Additionally, if you get it wet before handling, you could end up with corrosive burns. It is also a bad idea to stand over the sink after using granular drain openers, as the fumes can be damaging. Overall, granular drain openers are considered safer than liquid drain openers, but you still need to be cautious and follow product instructions.

Will Liquid or Powder Drain Openers Wear Down My Pipes?

As for their effect on pipes, drain openers’ impact will depend on the specific ingredients used rather than their consistency. Most powder drain openers shouldn’t negatively impact your pipes, but because of their intense heat generation, they can sometimes crack porcelain when they don’t clear the drain quickly enough, so use them with caution.

However, when it comes to liquid drain openers, it depends on the chemicals used. If it’s sulfuric acid, yes, it could damage your pipes if they are older, rusted, or cast iron. However, if it’s a caustic, the liquid drain opener shouldn’t cause you any problems if used according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Generally, you should only use acid drain cleaners if your clog is severe, such as in the case of paper or cotton clogs. So, if you’re choosing between liquid and powder drain openers and are worried about your pipes, either one should be fine as long as it’s a caustic rather than an acid.

Are Liquid or Powder Drain Openers More Cost Effective?

Another important factor that comes into play when choosing a drain opener is naturally cost. Of course you want to make the best decision for your facility, but your facility is also running on a budget.

Granular drain openers typically have a significantly higher upfront cost, ranging from $30-80 for one 20-ounce bottle whereas liquid drain openers fall in the range of $20-40 for one pint bottle. If you expect to use drain openers very infrequently, the upfront cost of granular drain openers probably isn’t worth it.

However, granular drain openers tend to be more economical. Usually, liquid drain openers are diluted with water while granular drain openers contain more concentrated ingredients. This means that you use less powder at a time than liquid, so you usually get far more uses out of a granular drain opener than out of a liquid one.

For example, State Chemical’s caustic drain openers are Drain Rocket and Clear Out. Drain Rocket is a liquid drain opener that you’ll typically use one full pint bottle of to unclog a drain. Meanwhile, Clear Out is a granular drain opener that has 25 uses per bottle.

With this number of uses, a granular drain opener is an average of $2.20 per use. Meanwhile, since you’ll usually use a full pint of liquid drain opener with each use, a liquid drain opener averages at $30 per use.

Depending on how much you expect to use your drain opener, either option could be more cost effective.

How Severe is the Clog?

Whether you should use a liquid or granular drain opener also comes down to the severity of your drain clog.

Most Severe Clogs

For the most severe clogs, you’ll have to use an acid drain opener, which is almost always a liquid. A severe drain clog will be one caused by paper or cotton, like if one of your residents flushed bedsheets or diapers.

Serious Clogs

For serious clogs less intense than those caused by paper or cotton, granular drain openers can be the best option. These can include thick blockages and cases where water won’t drain at all. If you have an oddly shaped drain or if there is standing water around your drain, putting a granular drain opener down a funnel can help it to most easily get to a clog. With liquid options, this is still possible but might be more difficult.

Moderate Clogs

For moderate clogs, it’s best to use a caustic drain opener rather than an acid. In this case, granular or liquid drain openers should each work. Typically, caustic drain openers are made of sodium hydroxide whether they’re liquid or granular. However, granular drain openers will have a more concentrated amount of sodium hydroxide, so they can have a stronger initial reaction that generates more heat. Either option will work, but granular drain openers might be slightly more effective.

A moderate clog will be one caused by fats, oils, and greases (FOGs), hair, or other organics. It can involve slow drains or full blockages.

Which Kind of Drain Opener is Easiest to Use?

One highlight of liquid drain openers is that they are easier to dose than granular drain openers. In liquid drain openers, for example, the amount to pour down your drain might be a full bottle whereas granular drain openers will require more attention to measure.

Many people are also more familiar with liquid drain openers, so simply pouring some down the drain may be easier than gauging the right amount, especially since granular products are so concentrated that they pose a risk if too much is used. Plus, when you’re using a full bottle, you don’t have to worry about storing any leftover chemicals.

In Summary: If Cost Effectiveness and Safety are More Important to You, Choose a Granular Drain Opener. For Lower Upfront Cost and Ease of Use, Choose a Liquid

Choosing between granular and liquid drain openers can be tricky, especially because your situation isn’t necessarily the same as someone else’s. We’ve covered the benefits and limitations of each substance, and now you’re prepared to explore the best product to unclog your drain.