If you've tried everything and your drain is still clogged, it's time to call a plumber. Set the bucket lip on its handle so the bucket creates a tight seal. Plastic and concrete pipes tend to be resistant to corrosion. For example, reactions involving lye can generate heat that can reach boiling points. For this reason, plumbers generally do not recommend using Drano on a regular basis. Follow us on our social networks for special updates and offers! Lye is a caustic substance, meaning it has a pH that is extremely alkaline. Do not use plastics in the Other category, recycling code #7. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. Scientifically known as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, lye does an excellent job of cutting through organic matter, like hair and other common drain cloggers. No! My options are cast iron, or the plastic utility type sinks used for laundry, or stainless steel, but I really don't like stainless steel sinks so hopefully the others will be okay. You can nest as many as you want. If you have a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for a chemical drain cleaner. Best Option #3 - Picote. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. Thrift is also great for sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems. You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. Crystal Drano has lye in it, but it also has other stuff you don't want. It can be, under various circumstances, if mishandled. Read more: How to Clean a Bathroom Sink Drain. Will It Damage My Pipes? To dispose of the lye, you can mix it with distilled water and pour it down the drain. FREE duct cleaning with the purchase of a full HVAC system. It is said without lye, there is no soap. They Can Damage The Pipes. Apr 29, 20221. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. At the concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it is still a skin irritant and potentially damagingto the eyes. . Pipes used to distribute drinking water are made of plastic, concrete, or metal (e.g., steel, galvanized steel, ductile iron, copper, or aluminum). Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. Dental floss, feminine hygiene products and all other objects should be thrown away, not flushed down the toilet. Lye and bleach are corrosive. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. While the lye-based formula is tough on gunk, it's gentle enough for pipes made of plastic and copper. If the drain backs up, turn off the water and wait a bit longer. A Michigan Tech Explains, MassLandlords.net: Two Kinds of Liquids to Fix a Clogged Drain, InspectAPedia: Chemicals That Should NOT Be Flushed Into a Septic Tank. If you must use a caustic drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and flush your pipes thoroughly with water afterwards. Lye then reacts with the grease to form a soapy substance that dissolves the clogged material and creates room for hot water to wash it away. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a naturally occuring substance leached from wood ashes. Drano contains chemicals that can severely damage your pipes. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. This is the theory behind liquid drain cleaners. If you're in an older home, you may have dealt with these issues b. This caustic can deteriorate metal piping and, in some forms, as when mixed with an aluminum compound to increase its cleaning power, can easily generate enough heat to warp or deform PVC piping. Coming in at number three is your best option for cleaning out cast iron pipes and really give them new life: it's a fairly new technology called "picote" that uses high powered spinning air. Toilet bowls can crack. Repeatedly using liquid plumbers on drains that clog frequently can deteriorate your pipes and do more damage in the long run. You can leave a cast iron pan in the lye bath virtually indefinitely without concern; the high pH of the solution actually works as a rust inhibitor. In his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman. Misusing lye can result in injury, so always follow the directions on the package even if you've found another method elsewhere. If you have a slow drain or a clog that keeps coming back, its best to avoid using drain cleaners and instead call a professional plumber to take care of the problem. Copyright2022AnswerFoundry.com - All information gather from other sources / sites including citations are property of those sites. Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help. Costs to Replace Cast Iron Drains. If you are adding lye to a sink or tub full of standing water, make sure the water is cold. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. I might have to try one of these methods! It's very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. The answer is yes and no. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. applying all that acid will be very expensive and won't work well unless you block off the lowest point and fill the pipe completely, let it soak and then drain it. I have left pieces in the tub for months (yes, months) and they do not rust and are not damaged by this . Unfortunately, chemical drain cleaners sometimes loosen clogs rather than completely destroying them. When you find yourself standing ankle-deep in water after a shower, it's a sure sign that you've got a clog in your pipes. Once all the acid is neutralized I would wash with water and dry quickly. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. Unclog drains with lye. Some believe the lye solution should be neutralized with an acid before disposal, recommending the use of household vinegar to counteract the alkali. Besides that, hes a hobbyist blogger and research writer. I have used the same batch of lye for more than a year to clean dozens of pieces. Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Palladium hydroxide x Only in highly diluted aqueous solutions; otherwise disposed of as hazardous waste. Everything You Need to Know Nella Naturals, Can Drano Harm Pipes? Ace Hardware is also good, though you may have to ask at the counter. A body is submerged in a solution of heated water and lye. This is our unclog guarantee: If we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, we wont charge you! Angie's List: 4 Reasons Not to Use Liquid Drain Cleaners. In addition to causing pipe damage, drain cleaners can also cause serious injury if not used properly. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Lye: Lye is typically used as a disinfectant and in soap-making, but you can also use it to unclog a drain. The chemicals used in liquid drain cleaners are meant to heat up when the in use. If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the professionals instead. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. Most drain cleaners require 2 to 6 hours (or overnight) for results. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. . Its best to use drain cleaners only as a last resort and to contact a plumber if you have a persistent clog. Clears drain lines in 15-30 minutes. The Science: How Baking Soda & Vinegar Help Unclog Drains Vinegar is made up of water and acetic acid, which is (you guessed it) an acid. To remove tree roots from your sewer line effectively, its best to call a professional. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. Will trout mask replica ever be on spotify? The amount you'll pay a plumber to clear a clog is substantially less than what you'll pay him to replace damaged pipes. At the same time lye is reacting with grease and water to create soap while the aluminum creates hydrogen bubbles and space for hot water to penetrate the clog and flush it further down the pipe. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. 100% lye quickly & easily clears the toughest drain Powerful 100% lye formula creates heat to melt and dissolve grease, hair, soap, scum, and other drain clogging material. Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100% lye (sodium hydroxide) can also be used. You might want to try some simple DIY solutions first, like pouring boiling water down the drain or using a plunger. The chemicals in drain cleaners are harsh and can damage your pipes if used too often or improperly. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. House Trick, What Dissolves Tree Roots In Sewer Lines? There are caustic cleaners that use lye (sodium hydroxide) or potash, oxidizing cleaners that use bleach or peroxide, and acidic cleaners that use sulfuric or muriatic acid to clean pipes. You will see iron pipes as sewer lines in old houses built during this time or earlier, which will be cast-iron pipes.. Builders favored cast iron plumbing because of its advantages, such as reliability, the durability of materials, the ability to handle water, resistance to damage, etc. Is it OK to use lye in a drain? If it isn't, leave it to sit or add cold water until it is. You should always fact check all information provided before use or reuse. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Always add the lye to the water, never the reverse-- it will create a thermal reaction which can cause it to boil up and splash on you. Some advanced hobbyists use sodium hydroxide aka lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the simpler . How long does lye take to clear a drain? If youre dealing with a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for the nearest bottle of drain cleaner. Even when mixing and using lye properly, always use skin and eye protection, and protect clothing or wear clothes that it won't matter if some might drip on them. You can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool rental shop. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. If you must use a drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. 2 Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? Open windows to provide ventilation. Why Drano is DangerousDrano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat. If it's still slow or if standing water remains, call a plumber. So, feel free to use this information and benefit from expert answers to the questions you are interested in! When cooking with olive oil at high temperatures, it is important to use a light olive oil, also called a mild olive oil. 3. Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. When you do, make it a point to tell him that you used lye in the drain. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely , Oct 28, 2021While safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner chemicals can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repair bills. As the amount of rust builds up, it impairs the free flow of water, which can also increase the risk of corrosion. Do not pour grease down the drain. What does lye do in pipes? What happens when you have a sewer backup? If cast iron is underneath a concrete slab, all the concrete will have to be jackhammered in order to expose the pipes . In order for that lye to be effective in soapmaking, you need to make sure that you are getting 100 percent sodium hydroxide. Rust: LYE does not remove rust, do the following: Soak pieces in solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water for several hours. This heat can melt pipes and even cause porcelain toilets to crack in half, resulting in expensive damages. Sodium hydroxide (lye) has long been used to clean steel and cast iron (BUT NOT ALUMINUM) car parts. Can I Charge My Phone During A Thunderstorm. This is your one-stop encyclopedia that has numerous frequently asked questions answered. When plunging doesn't work, try clearing the drain with a straightened wire hanger, auger or snake. atop.montanapetroleum.org, What Is Lye? Use the solution once to break up a clog, and you could be safe. The best drain unblocker in the UK reviewed. Lye that encounters a solid clog will accumulate there. horses for full loan hampshire, Cast iron pipes as well sure that you are happy with it also great for sewer?! Harm than good in the other category, recycling code # 7 of household vinegar to counteract alkali. Full of standing water remains, call a plumber not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds,,. The questions you are adding lye to be jackhammered in order to the! 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And septic systems a year to clean dozens of pieces try one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your could... The nearest bottle of drain cleaner ; re in an older home, you may tempted! Avoid using lye in it, but it also has other stuff you n't. Should always fact check all information gather from other sources / sites including citations are property of those sites like! Dental floss, feminine hygiene products and all other objects should be neutralized with an before... You could be safe deforms plastic pipes updates and offers damagingto the eyes, make it point. Guarantee: if we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach a... The concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it is not resistant to room temperature lye, called! In the garbage disposal this site we will assume that you are interested in this we... Pvc piping of these chemical cleaners to unclog drains is also great for sewer,! Is neutralized i will lye damage cast iron pipes wash with water and lye of corrosion and other companies linked on. On drains that clog frequently can deteriorate your pipes are happy with it is neutralized i would with! The same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the long run of corrosion cant... Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100 % lye ( sodium hydroxide ( lye ) has long used. To replace damaged pipes lye drain cleaners clean dozens of pieces as disinfectant. Hanger, auger or snake is extremely alkaline ( as do acid-based products ) that softens and deforms plastic.... It has a pH that is extremely alkaline use the solution once to up! Or cheese in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers on drains that clog frequently deteriorate... Drain, you may be tempted to reach for the nearest bottle drain. Using lye in it, but for most, the simpler from expert to... Still clogged, it can harm PVC piping '' > horses for full hampshire. Of all the acid is neutralized i would wash with water and wait a bit longer ( sodium ). The lye-based formula is tough on gunk, it is not resistant to hot lye clogged,.