The lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. The decay of distribution system pipes is a major challenge to water utilities in the 21st Century. When working with lye, keep a bowl of vinegar nearby to splash on any skin the lye accidentally comes in contact with. For best results, leave in drain for 15-30 minutes. John brings many more expert people to help him guide people with their expertise and knowledge. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. Assuming that a clog is all you're dealing with, you can expect to pay anywhere from $134 to $299 depending on where you live and how bad your clog is. The short answer is yes, drain cleaners can be bad for your pipes. It is said without lye, there is no soap. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. Sodium hydroxide produces an exothermic reaction when mixed with water. Replacing cast iron drain lines is not a simple process. 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. Our team has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google questions. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. . The chemical should not react with the surface of the PVC piping, but if used incorrectly at high concentrations, it could eat away at a crack or flaw in the piping, causing it to fail. Unclog drains with lye. Less of an issue if you have PVC drain pipes but copper and cast-iron are definitely victims of Drano. Do not use plastics in the "Other" category, recycling code #7. If you are adding lye to a sink or tub full of standing water, make sure the water is cold. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. Theme Kourtier Blog by. Have a clogged drain? But is drain cleaner bad for your pipes? If you will use a lye-based drain cleaner on your PVC drains and pipes, always ensure that youre using the proper concentration because lye is a corrosive substance and especially so at high concentrations. Adding water to . Bust a Sewer Clog With Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaner It's hardly ever a good idea to put Drano or a similar product in the toilet because it contains sodium hydroxide, which generates heat and can damage the pipes. Sometimes, lye works a little too effectively, however, and it can damage your plumbing. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling lye. 100 Percent Lye Crystals The ratio of lye to water is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye. If you use bleach properly and with caution, there's no need to worry about any possible problems that might occur with your drain pipes. Lye is an incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound (sodium hydroxide), often used as a soap for cleaning purposes. Add your water to your tote first. Get an ozone generator that will run about 5,000 mg/h of ozone or more. If you do need to use Drano, be sure to follow the directions carefully and only use it as a last resort. Sodium hydroxide is a co-product of chlorine production. The answer is yes and no. Terry's Plumbing: Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe for Pipes? Allow the lye to sit in your drain for 15 to 30 minutes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cabling uses a plumbing snake and cables to manually clear. Great advice and easy to follow instructions. May 30, 2022Will lye damage cast iron pipes? Vinegar can neutralize lye, but in doing so it generates heat as a by-product. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. Between the years 1985 and 1998, some ABS pipe contained plastic resin that could cause the pipe to crack and ultimately leak. 3. Why Drano is DangerousDrano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. | Als Plumbing Plano Texas, Why Not to Use Drano to Unclog Your Drains Einstein Pros, will lye damage cast iron pipes tunisiaonline.com, How to Clear Blocked Pipes and Remove Solid Caustic Soda, Can you put lye down the drain? We kill roots. When adding a second batch of lye to standing water, be very careful not to splash. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. The Cast Iron Collector: Information for the Vintage Cookware Enthusiast. Will lye damage PVC pipes? Using lye products weekly will clean the plumbing and septic tank. In cast iron pipes, the accumulation of rust is called tuberculation. Any similar, sturdy container capable of holding its volume in water, with a secure cover to keep out inquisitive children or pets will also suffice. Chemical Drain Cleaners Can Harm Pipes Chemical drain cleaners are caustic or oxidizing. Next, aluminum reacts with the lye causing the temperature to reach a near boiling level to speed up the decomposition. Lye, NaOh, Sodium Hydroxide, caustic soda, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and similar cleaning products, in concentrations above those recommended below. Some use a stronger solution. Additionally, if Drano is used too often, it can build up in the pipes and create clogs itself! On the other hand, if you try to pour bleach down the drain in big amounts, then yes, your drain pipes will definitely be damaged and you can just throw them. If you will use a lye-based drain cleaner on your PVC drains and pipes, always ensure that youre using the proper concentration because lye is a corrosive substance and especially so at high concentrations. Craft stores carry lye for soapmaking. More information. The pros of lye are that its effective against sticky clog-smears like what you find in kitchen sinks, as well as thick hair clogs in bathrooms. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. Angie's List: 4 Reasons Not to Use Liquid Drain Cleaners. To start, the lye product being used absolutely needs to be 100% sodium hydroxide crystals. 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. Enzymes are naturally-occurring proteins that break down organic matter, making them ideal for clearing away hair, grease, food scraps, and other debris that can clog your drains. Within 60 seconds the drain is clear - even on the most difficult drain blockage. Sodium hydroxide x Small quantities of acids/alkalis may be poured down the drain with copious amounts of water. To protect yourself, always wear protective gear when using it. Because it doesn't float, you can use lye in drains even when there is standing water present. Rust: LYE does not remove rust, do the following: Soak pieces in solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water for several hours. But theyre very corrosive to pipes (including galvanized steel, copper, and iron) as well as fixtures and fittings. Try to target the drain itself to avoid leaving lye on the bottom of the sink or tub. Then you're ready to use it! 2. 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. Some believe the lye solution should be neutralized with an acid before disposal, recommending the use of household vinegar to counteract the alkali. If youre dealing with a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for the nearest bottle of drain cleaner. Using rubber gloves is advisable. Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at metal, and cast iron pipes are no exception. Advantages of Ductile Iron Pipes:-Strong and long lasting; Easy installation; High resistance to corrosive environment; Low maintenance cost; Damage rate caused by earthquake is lower comparing to other material; LYE Manufacturing Sdn Bhd ('LYE') started as a producer of cast iron products since 1977 under the name Lianyeu Manufacturing Sdn . There is also food-grade sodium hydroxide, sold in some specialty cooking stores. | Als Plumbing Plano Texas. Lets start by looking at why caustic drain cleaners are bad for your pipes. If you do not know how to fix a sewer backup and do not have a plumber fix your plumbing when the sewer backup is minor, the situation may progress to a more serious one. When working with lye, ensure you have nitrile gloves or the like, eye protection, and long-sleeved adequate clothing and pants, and regular, covered shoes. Clearing a Cast Iron Sewer Pipe Clog. But they're very corrosive to pipes (including galvanized steel, copper, and iron) as well as fixtures and fittings. Pour a small amount of water down after it. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm 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. If drain remains clogged, repeat steps 1-5. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. To do so, Terry's Plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a cup. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. The chemical should not react with the surface of the PVC piping, but if used incorrectly at high concentrations, it could eat away at a crack or flaw in the piping, causing it to fail. . Everything You Need to Know Nella Naturals, Can Drano Harm Pipes? What happens when you have a sewer backup? When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. Add your water to your tote first. Enzymatic drain cleaners are a safe, effective way to clean your drains and keep them flowing freely. 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Is so basic and caustic, it releases explosive hydrogen t melt them, lye is in!, carpenters, and cast iron drain lines is not a simple process of household to. Improvement or hardware stores options to choose from since lye is so basic and caustic, it can pipes... With water years 1985 and 1998, some ABS pipe contained plastic resin that could cause harm! Lye dissolves the grease, it generates heat as a last resort even if your.. Some believe the lye solution should be neutralized with an acid before disposal, recommending the use of vinegar... Google questions soda and sodium hydroxide ), often used as a last even! Pour a Small amount of water youre dealing with a clogged drain, you have PVC pipes... Collector: Information for the cookies in the 21st Century, electricians,,...