Top 5 Best Drain Cleaner for Old Pipes 2021

If you have an older home with old pipes, they might be a bit clogged up. Even if you are careful with what you put down your drains, over the years, debris and residue can build up, thus leading to a lack of drainage and even severe blockages too. This is why we are here to help you with today, to find the best drain cleaner for old pipes, which is easier said than done because there are quite a few products to consider. We have some of the best products for you to look at, as well as some advice on how to find the cleaner for old pipes.

Overall #1 Rated Pick

Drano Gel Drain Clog Remover + Snake Tool

Our number one pick for the best drain cleaner for old pipes has to be Drano Gel Drain Clog Remover + Snake Tool. There are a variety of reasons for this, so let’s take a quick look.

This product is safe to use on all pipes including old ones, even septic systems too (it just cannot be used on toilets).
The extra strength formula has the power to eat through grease, hair, soap scum, toilet paper, waste, and more.
This is a very fast acting formula, but can also be left in drains overnight.
The real kicker here is how this product also comes with a snake tool so in case the Gel doesn’t get it done, you have a drain snake to finish off the clog.

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Drain Cleaner for Old Pipes – Buying Guide

Let’s quickly go over some advice, tips, and info that you can use to choose the best cleaner for old pipes.

What it Can Power Through

The first thing you always want to look for when choosing a drain cleaner is what the product in question is designed to eat through. Most of these products will be able to eat through anything organic. The product you get should be able to handle all manners of food, grease, hair, and anything else which might be in your drain.

Chemical vs Enzyme

Another thing to keep in mind here is whether you want to go with a chemical formula or an enzyme based formula. Enzyme based formulas are quite eco friendly and can usually eat through most clogs just fine. However, the chemical drain cleaners are much stronger, better at unclogging, and much faster acting too, although they definitely are not eco friendly.

Intended Application

You do also need to pay attention to the intended application of the product. Everything we have reviewed here today is safe for old pipes and drains. However, be careful when choosing drain cleaners for toilets, as most of the products reviewed today, as well as most drain cleaners in general, are not toilet safe.

Viscosity

Something else to look for is a drain cleaner with a thick formula. Thick drain cleaners can cut through standing water and will really adhere to clogs, so the clogs get dissolved without the product simply running right down the drain past the clog.

Safety Tips

Wear gloves when using these products, as most are super corrosive
Use these products in a well ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes
Always read the instructions and safety warnings before using any drain cleaner

Important Note

Drain cleaner poisoning – medlineplus.gov

The Best Drain Cleaner for Old Pipes

The top best product [hide]

Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

This particular drain cleaner is designed to be safe with PVC and metal pipes, as well as garbage disposals, septic systems, and more, so it should work wonders on old pipes. Drano Max Gel Clog Remover is formulated to remove even the toughest of clogs, and even though it is very strong, it can be left in drains overnight to remove even the most stubborn of blockages. This drain cleaner is formulated to be extra thick, so it cuts through still standing water, yet also really sticks to drains and to anything clogging the drains, so it won’t just run down the drain and go to waste. It’s a very potent chemical formula that should be able to eat through everything and anything organic. Let’s keep in mind that if it does not work, you are guaranteed to get your money back.

Pros

Very thick

Safe for all types of drains, even old ones

Can be left in drains overnight

Will eat through paper, waste, hair, and more

Fast acting and very strong

Cons

Not for toilets

Chemicals are not eco friendly

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Drano Gel Drain Clog Remover + Snake Tool

Here we are taking things one step further, as this drain cleaner is technically the same one as above, but with some extra drain unclogging power. First off, this is the same thick formulated Drano Gel Drain Cleaner reviewed above, a thick formula that sticks to drains and sticks to clogs to eat through waste, hair, and anything organic. Yes, it is very fast acting and can also be left in drains overnight. Moreover, it is designed to be used with all sorts of pipes, drains, and septic systems, everything but toilets. The extra drain clogging power mentioned above actually comes in the form of a drain snake, a great and convenient handheld tool that you use to punch through tough clogs in old pipes. If the drain cleaner liquid doesn’t do it, the drain snake will.

Pros

Thick formula

Comes with a drain snake

Can be left in drains overnight

Safe for all drains and pipes

Strong formula to eat through all sorts of organics

Cons

Strong chemicals are not eco friendly

Not for use with toilets

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DISSOLVE Liquid Hair & Grease Clog Remover

Here we have another very effective drain cleaner to keep in mind, one that can liquify hair, grease, soap scum, and waste alike. It’s designed to be very thick, so it really sticks to drains and sticks to clogs, thus eating through everything standing in its way before it runs down the drain. Keep in mind that each bottle comes with 2 applications. Now, while this stuff is not exactly eco-friendly in the fullest, it is much safer to use than many other chemical heavy options. It is much greener than most other options, making it safer to use, especially on older pipes. DISSOLVE Liquid Hair & Grease Clog Remover is safe to use on all drains, pipes, septic systems, and yes, it is even able to unclog toilets without fear of causing damage. The thick formula starts working within minutes to unclog pipes fast.

Pros

Eats through all organics

Safe for all pipes and drains, even toilets

Thick formula

Fast acting

Somewhat eco friendly

Cons

Smells bad

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Zep Liquid Heat Drain Opener

This particular product is an extra strength option designed to eat through the toughest of blockages in old pipes. It uses a combination of chemicals to eat through all organic materials, while also causing a chemical reaction that creates an insane amount of heat, thus more or less burning its way through clogs. This stuff should be able to eat its way through literally anything blocking those pipes. The gel formula really clings to any obstacle in its way, so it won’t just run right down the pipes. This product can be used on all drains and pipes except for toilets. Do not use it on toilets.

Pros

Safe for all drains

Very thick

Heat generating formula

Works in mere minutes

Extra strength

Cons

Not toilet safe

Not eco friendly

Very strong chemicals

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Liquid Plumber Clog Remover

To round things off, here we have some good old Liquid Plumber, which is a heavy duty chemical formula which is made very thick to cling to pipes and stick to clogs. It’s an extra strength formula designed to stick to and eat through all sorts of organics before it runs down the pipes. This is a safe drain cleaner for old pipes, one that can be used with most pipe materials and most drains. No, it cannot be used for toilets, but it can be used for septic systems.

Pros

Thick formula

Safe for old pipes

Eats through all organics

Very strong

Cons

Not toilet safe

Heavy chemical formula

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Drano Gel Drain Clog Remover + Snake Tool

Our number one pick has to be the Drano Gel Drain Clog Remover + Snake Tool. Now, the reason why we chose this product, for one, is because it comes with a drain snake, so if all else fails, you can snake out your sink, shower, or tub drain to remove any clogs that the Drano Gel itself was not able to deal with. Of course, the Drano Gel itself is very strong, an extra strength formula that should be able to eat through all manners of clogs, anything organic really. This stuff is made to be very thick so it actually eats through clogs instead of just running past them. It may not be toilet safe or eco-friendly, but it definitely unclogs drains quite well.

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Conclusion

At the end of the day, drain cleaner for old pipes is one that will be able to eat through organic blockages without running right down the pipes, and moreover, it has to be safe for old pipes. One thing to keep in mind is that most of the products reviewed today are not toilet safe, but other than that, it’s all up to you!