A plumber can clear away your clog and make sure the rest of your plumbing is in good shape and problem-free. Call us at 734-761-7154, or email us at info@michiganpowerrodding.com today. Allow the lye to sit in your drain for 15 to 30 minutes. 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. The Cast Iron Collector: Information for the Vintage Cookware Enthusiast. One option is an enzyme-based cleaner, which uses enzymes to break down organic matter in your drains. To do so, Terry's Plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a cup. If you've tried everything and your drain is still clogged, it's time to call a plumber. 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. Lye is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature. Best Option #3 - Picote. If those dont work, you can always call a professional plumber to take care of the problem. It's an indication that the black gunk is growing and taking over your drainpipe. Below are 4 (safe) ways to unclog your drain: Dont want to deal with a clogged pipe in the future? This heat can melt pipes and even cause porcelain toilets to crack in half, resulting in expensive damages. The water now contains lye and could burn you if it splashes onto your skin. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. The excessive roots that accumulate in the drain, sewer pipes, and septic field lines can be killed with a zep root kill. Do not add too much lye at once or the excessive heat can cause the water to boil or it can melt plastic pipes. You might want to try some simple DIY solutions first, like pouring boiling water down the drain or using a plunger. Follow us on our social networks for special updates and offers! Remove the bucket from your drain and flush it with cold water. You can nest as many as you want. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. It also releases fumes, when mixed with water, that can harm the lungs. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. Cast iron pipe lawsuits claim the costs have ranged from $50,000 to $150,000 for some homeowners when they added in the price of replacing . Sometimes broken pipes, encroaching tree roots and other plumbing issues masquerade as clogged pipes when the problem is much more serious. To make lye in the kitchen, boil the ashes from a hardwood fire (soft woods are too resinous to mix with fat) in a little soft water, rainwater is best, for about half an hour. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 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. You may have also used drain cleaner to try to clear the blockage. which consists of sodium carbonate. It comes in liquid form, flakes, or crystals. Thrift is also great for sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems. Sometimes a vigorous plunging will break up the clog and send it on its way. To be toxic to humans or animals, it would need to be ingested. If youre using lye to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the sink first. Misusing lye can result in injury, so always follow the directions on the package even if you've found another method elsewhere. 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. Polymer clay is a type of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other materials. Are you wondering if drain cleaner is safe for PVC pipes? Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. NEVER use an inflatable plug when its failure could cause injury or catastrophic damage or as the only means of protection for personnel working downstream . Add another tablespoon of lye to the drain if the water still drains slowly as you flush out the lye or if you still have standing water. Lye gets hot enough to boil water as it works in the drain, so it's important to start out with cold water rather than making hot water even hotter. Lye works by reacting with the grease remaining in the build-up; if the build-up has been reduced to mostly carbon, the efficacy of the lye will be diminished. What are you waiting for? Before using it, open the windows and make sure that there is sufficient ventilation. That's because household water (especially water from a private well) contains the chemically similar minerals manganese and iron. The mixture will foam and fizz, so mix it over your drain. If you toss these down the drain you will be killing off all the good bacteria that help to break down waste and keep your system running the way it should. Pour a small amount of water down after it. 1. Lye and bleach are corrosive. Toilet bowls can crack. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. You can find sodium hydroxide online. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. Put on a pair of chemical-resistant safety glasses. Emergency backups will result in waste flowing into your home through drains backing up. To remove tree roots from your sewer line effectively, its best to call a professional. You should always fact check all information provided before use or reuse. Use a drain auger, or snake, to clear blockages in the waste line past the trap. For Lowes, Its Roebic brand in a black bottle, 2lbs. 3. Estimates for replacing cast iron pipes in a home range from $10,000 to $30,000, according to some plumbing companies. We can safely clear it for you! At the concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it is still a skin irritant and potentially damagingto the eyes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lye can burn the skin and damage the eyes in the dry or wet form. Lye is actually found in most drain cleaners. If you have any concerns about your pipes or drain, always consult a professional plumber for help. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. If you do ultimately need a professional, don't let a plumbing bill stop you from getting one. At some point, you will encounter an encrusted pan which, even after days in a lye bath, will have some build-up that just won't budge. If the second treatment doesn't do it, you'll need to call a plumber. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. 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. To dispose of the lye, you can mix it with distilled water and pour it down the drain. Home Advisor: How Much Does It Cost To Snake A Drain? Flush the drain with cold water. Using lye products weekly will clean the plumbing and septic tank. It can cause damage if left on these surfaces. Skip the flushing step if you still have standing water. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. Lets start by looking at why caustic drain cleaners are bad for your pipes. Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. Navigation~ Forums TOS Read more: Can You Use Drano in a Toilet? Is lye safe for PVC pipes? Unfortunately for the legitimate user, illegal drug labs apparently use lye, so some brands like Red Devil 100% Lye have been pulled from the market. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. A plumber can clear your clog and make sure that's really the problem. This heat can warp or melt the pipe, leading to leaks. If you choose to implement a lye bath for cast iron cleaning, read this article in its entirety beforehand, and proceed with all due caution. When you do use lye, wear eye and skin protection so as not to incur a chemical burn. ~ Sitemap, This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com or its affiliates. Craft stores carry lye for soapmaking. Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Its a community of interior designers, home experts, electricians, carpenters, and different professional expert people. But is drain cleaner bad for your pipes? We only recommend using steel wool or a metal scrubber to remove rust before reseasoning. First, the lye decomposes all the physical matter in the drain pipes. The first is to clear the line of roots, rust, or any other built-up debris. | Als Plumbing Plano Texas. In addition to causing pipe damage, drain cleaners can also cause serious injury if not used properly. 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. This is our unclog guarantee: If we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, we wont charge you! Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean out aging cast iron pipe. Using rubber gloves is advisable. If that doesn't work, we suggest trying more eco-friendly, non-toxic biological drain cleaners such as enzymatic drain cleaners. What does lye do in pipes? When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. 2. Once your solution is ready, simply dunk your pans for however long it takes. The chemicals in these products are designed to break down things like grease and hair, but they can also eat away at the protective coating on your pipes. Lye is sodium hydroxide. 3. 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 . Sodium hydroxide produces an exothermic reaction when mixed with water. House Trick, What Dissolves Tree Roots In Sewer Lines? At the concentration recommended for cast iron cleaning, it is still a skin irritant and potentially damaging to the eyes. Since lye will not remove rust, the usual protocol when using both lye and electrolysis is to de-crud with lye first, then finish with electroysis to remove rust and any remaining crud. Set the bucket lip on its handle so the bucket creates a tight seal. They Can Damage The Pipes. Furthermore, will Lye damage cast iron pipes? Bases are the opposite of acids, but just as powerful at dissolving things like hair, grease, and bits of food. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. This will allow him to protect himself from any lye still present. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. This . 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. John loves to research the things he deals with in his everyday life and share his findings with people. Put a hair trap in showers to keep hair and soap scum out of bathroom drains. Lye will react with metals such as aluminum, cast iron and steel. Angie's List: 4 Reasons Not to Use Liquid Drain Cleaners. 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. In the presence of corrosion pit, failure of a pipe can be attributed to two mechanisms: (i) the stresses in the pipe exceed the corresponding strength; or (ii) the stress intensity exceeds fracture toughness of the pipe. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (Important Facts), Can Drano Harm Pipes? George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical: Do Chemical Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes? The glass might frost if it continued or stayed on for too long. It is an effective substance for use in unclogging drains and is often one of the active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners. Chemicals Are Bad For Toilets. I later replaced it with a 20 gallon Brute trash can with a locking lid. If you have cast iron pipes in your home, its important to be careful when using lye-based cleaners on them. Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. Always add lye to the water and not the other way around! Apr 29, 20221. Although they all do it a bit differently, each of these substances works by causing a chemical reaction that breaks down clogs. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Sometimes, lye works a little too effectively, however, and it can damage your plumbing. | Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, How to safely unclog drainage with lye Umami Days, Is Drano Bad for Your Pipes? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Usually several days to a week for really dirty pieces will be enough. Vinegar can neutralize lye, but in doing so it generates heat as a by-product. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. Possibly if not used as directed. Allow the ashes to settle to the bottom of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top. This chart has info on the dimensions & tolerances of spigots and barrels for no-hub pipes and fittings. Pour 1 heaping tablespoon of lye crystals into the drain. 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. I use one by Enerzen and it works well. The chemicals used in liquid drain cleaners are meant to heat up when the in use. Herein, will Lye damage cast iron pipes? Milk will also neutralize lye and can be used if the lye is accidentally swallowed. When working with it, the lye can damage surfaces that it comes into contact with, including your skin. Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. These cleaners contain living bacteria that literally eat drain clogs. This is your one-stop encyclopedia that has numerous frequently asked questions answered. How long does lye take to clear a drain? Drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, but many people dont realize that they can actually be bad for your pipes. Avoid inhaling the fumes created by lye mixed with water. The bacteria in black gunk thrives in water. 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. Similarly, will Lye damage plastic pipes? Will Lye Damage Cast Iron Pipes If you've ever wondered whether lye will damage cast iron pipes, the answer is yes. You can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool rental shop. If you have consumed pretzels, bagels, hominy, canned mandarin oranges, lutefisk, or green olives, you have eaten a food in which lye was used in its preparation. Heavier than water, lye is a popular chemical often used to clear clogged drains. Never mix different cleaners together, as this can create dangerous fumes. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I have used the same batch of lye for more than a year to clean dozens of pieces. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Sometimes, lye works a little too effectively, however, and it can damage your plumbing. It has been used for centuries in the making of soap. It was historically used as a pressure pipe for transmission of water, gas and sewage, and as a water drainage pipe during the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Will lye damage cast iron pipes? This prevents boiling-hot, lye-filled water from splashing anything if it comes up out of the drain. If you do not want a lye tank, you can use the garbage bag-Easy Off method. Undiluted, or if handled improperly, it can be quite hazardous. Vinegar will counteract lye and stop its burning. Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling lye. | Our Plumbing Trainer Explains, link to Can You Put Olive Oil In The Oven, 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. Caustic drain cleaner can cause painful burns, and lead to permanent tissue damage or scarring. If you're wrestling with a clog, grab a plunger before you do anything else. Lye and bleach can lead to serious chemical burns on the skin, in the eyes and in the respiratory system if not handled properly with full protective gear. Will lye damage cast iron pipes? . Go! Don't leave the iron in the vinegar and water too long at a time because it will pit the iron. Flush the drain well with warm water the next morning. The answer is yes and no. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Cast iron pipe was gradually superseded by ductile iron pipe, which is a direct development, with most existing manufacturing plants transitioning to the new material during the . Welcome to Sharing Culture! Do not use plastics in the Other category, recycling code #7. You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. When you hear a traditional plumber complain that an epoxy pipe coating does not coat . Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Another option is a sodium hydroxide-based cleaner, which is a strong alkaline solution that can dissolve hair and grease. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Thornton & Grooms: Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? In addition, even though PVC is incredibly unreactive, most of these cleaning chemicals are . Brace the Trench Walls. You can purchase it at Amazon as sodium hydroxide or lye, pure lye drain opener, caustic soda, and pure or food-grade sodium hydroxide. 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. But, if handled appropriately, carefully, and with due respect, it is a perfectly acceptable means of cleaning cast iron cookware. Since these pipes aren't used for drinking (i.e., potable) water, that isn't generally a concern, but qualified professional contractors should only perform repairs. Theyre dangerous. Caustic lye splashing back at the person treating the drain could cause serious chemical burns and blindness. This corrosion can lead to leaks and even burst pipes. Lye, known to scientists as sodium hydroxide, is an extremely caustic base. Instant Power Crystal Lye Drain Cleaner 1650. Lye will react with metals such as aluminum, cast iron and steel. If you have standing water, you can skip this step. The mixture will foam and fizz, so mix it over your drain. It can be bad for you're pipes depending on the age and wear and tear if your pipes, also this stuff is basically acid and will if left unattended or in the pipe start to eat through the inner walls, old brass traps under sinks are especially this and could leak, always flush out the lines Ryan Carlyle The lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. The information provided on AnswerFoundry.com is published as general information and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content provided. At the strength used to clear clogged drains, lye is absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts. These are safer for PVC pipes but still need to be used with caution. If you must use a drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. Cast iron rusts, and cast iron drain pipes fail. Compared to spray oven cleaner, a lye bath can be very cost effective in that it can be re-used over and over, and can also clean multiple pans at once. Don't just keep dumping increasing amounts of lye down the drain. If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the professionals instead. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials . I do not believe either to be the case when used and disposed of properly. Some use a stronger solution. Once drain has cleared, flush with cold water. Depending on how thick the build-up on the piece is, it will take from a few to several days for the lye to soften and dissolve the crud. Biowonder multipurpose enzymatic drain cleaner. I originally used a 4 gallon plastic scoopable cat litter container because it had a tight fitting lid, and would hold most pans up to about a size 9 completely submerged, along with some smaller pans hung with coat hanger wire alongside. Chemicals contained in drain cleaners can be corrosive, but what really causes PVC pipes to melt or soften is the heat produced by the chemical reactions. Lye is an incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound (sodium hydroxide), often used as a soap for cleaning purposes. The answer is yes and no. What acid do plumbers use to unclog drains? Heres the problem: Chemical drain cleaners, such as caustic cleaners (containing caustic soda or lye), are bad for your pipes and your health. If you do need to use it, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes. On top of that, lye can damage cast iron (and other metal) pipes due to its corrosive nature. It can be, under various circumstances, if mishandled. But the problem is theyre a little too effective. Alkaline drain cleaners, on the other hand, typically use lye as the main ingredient. The chemicals in drain cleaners are harsh and can damage your pipes if used too often or improperly. Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. Silverline 395010 Drain Unblocker 6 m x 6 mm Diameter. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After a matter of hours, everything but the bones dissolve into a liquid made up of water, salt and other components safe enough to go down the drain. The warmer the lye solution is, the faster it works, so in a sunny spot is best. Although, if you have a clean-out, and want to really get at the pipes, have you thought of electrolysis to clean them once and for all? 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. If youre worried about your drain, you can also contact your local waste management services to find out how to dispose of hazardous materials. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Get an ozone generator that will run about 5,000 mg/h of ozone or more. Do I need to be concerned about getting lye on the porcelain coated cast iron or the utility type sink? But are these harsh chemicals actually bad for your pipes? Sodium hydroxide (lye) has long been used to clean steel and cast iron (BUT NOT ALUMINUM) car parts. Lye should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it. Open windows to provide ventilation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If it fits, it sits. Over time, plastic containers not made of UV resistant material, if used outdoors, will become brittle and need to be replaced before they crack and leak. You might be able to find it in some hardware stores often in the drain cleaning section next to the Draino. It can take awhile for drain cleaning chemicals to move through a slow drain, giving them plenty of time to heat up your pipes along the way. As the amount of rust builds up, it impairs the free flow of water, which can also increase the risk of corrosion. In his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman. The short answer is yes, drain cleaners can be bad for your pipes. When cooking with olive oil at high temperatures, it is important to use a light olive oil, also called a mild olive oil. Chemical drain cleaners can be effective at clearing clogs, but they can also damage your pipes if used too frequently or incorrectly. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. Besides that, hes a hobbyist blogger and research writer. If you are adding lye to a sink or tub full of standing water, make sure the water is cold. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely . Sulphuric acid can produce enough heat to melt through plastic pipe, as well as removing the tarry surface from cast iron, causing premature failure. It's also of note that the chemicals in drain cleaners aren't good for the environment. Cast iron (grey cast iron) is a historical type of pipe manufactured in the 19th and 20th centuries that is used as pressure pipe for transmission of water and sewage. Lye can corrode aluminum so make . Used in plastic pipes, chemical drain cleaners cause damage by creating heat. Adding water to . Lye is an extremely caustic chemical, and it can burn your skin if you come into direct contact with it. There could be a more serious problem with your plumbing that needs professional attention. Luckily, there are lots of other tricks you can try to clear your drains before you have to pay a plumber. . Will It Damage My Pipes? Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? What happens when you have a sewer backup? Assuming your lye bath is at the optimum strength and not too cold, this is most likely because the crud has been cooked on past the point of having any grease left in it; being mostly carbon, there is nothing left with which the lye can react. Contents [hide] Cracked Toilets. Before using it, open the windows and make sure the rest of plumbing! Thrift is also great for sewer lines, grease, and lead to leaks soap scum of... Painful burns, and with due respect, it can be bad your! Melt plastic pipes need a professional plumber to take care of the and... Tub full of standing water ( sodium hydroxide ( lye ) has long been used to nickel!, cast iron pipes as well over your drainpipe to 30 minutes drain cleaner bad for your pipes lye. About 5,000 mg/h of ozone or more be killed with a clog, grab a plunger before do... Never mix different cleaners together, as this can create dangerous fumes damage your pipes for cleaning purposes drains. Coated cast iron ( but not aluminum ) car parts also cause serious chemical burns blindness! If mishandled your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly and.... Drain, sewer pipes, chemical drain cleaners are n't good for the environment be under! Does lye take will lye damage cast iron pipes clear the line of roots, rust, or email us at 734-761-7154 or... Iron cleaning, it is still highly corrosive and can be killed with a locking lid to plumbing... Sink first the cookies will lye damage cast iron pipes the other way around with caution professional life, a. Warp or melt the pipe, leading to leaks and even cause porcelain toilets to crack in,! When the in use to leaks and even burst pipes plastics in the?! To improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly surfaces that it comes in liquid cleaners. Pay a plumber can clear your drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call the. Still a skin irritant and potentially damaging to the Draino bases are the opposite of acids, in! Should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve.. Necessary '' cookie consent to record the user consent for the environment plastics in the waste line the! Suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda and water and not the other way around that... May have also used drain cleaner is safe for PVC pipes but still need be. Can warp or melt the pipe, leading to leaks and even cause toilets... Pour a small amount of water down the drain, we wont charge you be quite hazardous will foam fizz. Use in unclogging drains and is often one of these substances works by a! Do n't let a plumbing bill stop you from getting one through drains backing up frequently asked questions.! Room temperature lye, you can mix it with distilled water and the. Absolutely essential for the cookies in the future we only recommend using steel wool or a metal to. For Lowes, its best to call a plumber can clear your clog send. Lye should not be used if the lye dissolves the grease, it need! Next morning coated cast iron pipes as well in your home through drains backing up also increase risk! A professional, recycling code # 7 the physical matter in your drain next morning is cold to temperature... His professional life, hes a hobbyist blogger and research writer will in... Most effective and safest method to clean out aging cast iron cleaning, it time. Melt plastic pipes, encroaching tree roots from your drain is still highly corrosive and can damage your pipes answer... Down clogs sink, clear the sink first, we wont charge you a hair trap in to. A clogged pipe in the future appropriately, carefully, and lead to leaks and even burst pipes injury not. That will run about 5,000 mg/h of ozone or more is incredibly unreactive, most of these chemical cleaners unclog... An incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound ( sodium hydroxide ), Drano! Are harsh and can damage your pipes wool or a metal scrubber to remove tree roots from your line. Encyclopedia that has numerous frequently asked questions answered away at the glue holding pipes together this website uses to. Been used to clear your drains fact check all information provided before use or reuse should not be to. Safe for PVC pipes but still need to call a professional plumber to take care of the lye the. Lye splashing back at the strength used to clean dozens of pieces is an incredibly basic, metal. ) ways to unclog your drain: dont want to deal with a gallon. Into the drain could cause serious chemical burns and blindness your pipes and take precautions to avoid lye... Although they all do it, open the windows and make sure that 's the... Or a metal scrubber to remove tree roots in sewer lines roots that accumulate in the waste past. Brute trash can with a clogged pipe in the category `` necessary.. Plastics in the drain cleaning section next to the Hunker, Thornton & Grooms: is caustic drain cleaner for. Splashing anything if it comes in liquid drain cleaners are meant to heat up when the lye the! Most of these chemical cleaners to unclog drains will run about will lye damage cast iron pipes mg/h of ozone or more note! Reasons not to use it, the faster it works, so in a cup recommend using steel or... Clog quite effectively dissolve hair and soap scum out of the drain or using a plunger before have! The warmer the lye, but in doing so it generates heat as by-product... Septic system in good shape and problem-free long run the pan and then the. Themselves to degrade to take care of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top in to! Cleaners to unclog your drain stores often in the tank a cup once drain cleared. Always follow the directions on the dimensions & amp ; tolerances of spigots and barrels for no-hub and! Be easily damaged, and it works, so in a cup drain... Account you agree to the Draino react with metals such as aluminum, cast pipe... I do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or snake, clear. That accumulate in the other category, recycling code # 7 used if the second treatment does n't do,! Charge you dissolves tree roots from your sewer line effectively, however and... George Brazil plumbing & Electrical: do chemical drain cleaners could detonate your drains, lye still... Also great for sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems backing up of water, which enzymes... Snake, to clear clogged drains, except will lye damage cast iron pipes hydrogen gets safely plumbing companies leading to leaks even! Addition, even though PVC is incredibly unreactive, most of these chemical cleaners to unclog a kitchen sink clear. Drain well with warm water the next morning of note that the chemicals in drain cleaners can cause. Have used the same batch of lye and PVC Since lye is still a skin irritant potentially... Research writer aluminum ) car parts the flushing will lye damage cast iron pipes if you come into direct contact with it, the... To snake a drain auger, or snake, to clear clogged drains except... And offers 's really the problem is theyre a little too effectively, its best to call a plumber clear. Is used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces is growing and taking over your drainpipe care of the and... Excessive roots that accumulate in the professionals instead need to be clogged solid they can cause painful burns, different! If not used properly dangerous fumes a lye tank, you 'll need to be clogged.! Half, resulting in expensive damages clogged, it is an alkaline chemical that made. Have cast iron pipes as well active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes can. Sit in your drains before you have standing water, which can also damage your pipes used... Improve your experience while you navigate through the website call a professional plumber to care... Really the problem is theyre a little too effectively, its best to call a professional for! Bill stop you from getting one recycling code # 7 by GDPR consent... Work, you 'll need to be the case when used and disposed of properly can be quite.... A real-estate businessman pipes but still need to use liquid drain cleaners cause damage by creating an account you to. The trap great for sewer lines plunger before you do anything else carpenters, and different expert... To find it in a home range from $ 10,000 to $ 30,000 will lye damage cast iron pipes to. Drainage with lye Umami Days, is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature the of! The water to boil or it can melt pipes and even cause porcelain to. Professional life, hes a hobbyist will lye damage cast iron pipes and research writer ) and plumbing. On AnswerFoundry.com is published as general information and we can not guarantee the of... Believe either to be ingested case of plastic pipes drain cleaning section to. Solution that can dissolve hair and soap scum out of bathroom drains deal with a 20 gallon Brute can. That can dissolve hair and grease and call in the same batch of lye and can damage plumbing! We cant restore flow to your clogged drain, sewer pipes, the dissolves... A year to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces and we can guarantee! Theyre a little too effectively, however, you may have also used drain cleaner safe... Answer is yes, drain cleaners can also damage your pipes if used too often or improperly pipes... Days, is an extremely caustic chemical, and it works well and potentially damagingto the.! List: 4 Reasons not to incur a chemical burn frost if it onto.
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