will lye damage cast iron pipes

Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. If you're in an older home, you may have dealt with these issues b. Sodium hydroxide x Small quantities of acids/alkalis may be poured down the drain with copious amounts of water. atop.montanapetroleum.org, What Is Lye? The warmer the lye solution is, the faster it works, so in a sunny spot is best. While the lye-based formula is tough on gunk, it's gentle enough for pipes made of plastic and copper. Biowonder multipurpose enzymatic drain cleaner. Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100% lye (sodium hydroxide) can also be used. Put on a pair of chemical-resistant safety glasses. There are safer ways to neutralize lye spills when making soap, my friend, so read on. Drano is a powerful chemical that can be very effective at unclogging drains. When they do, the clog simply gets pushed further down the pipe where it's even harder to reach and clear away. 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. What happens when you have a sewer backup? It does not store any personal data. We can safely clear it for you! Any heavy chemicals such as bleach, motor oil, poisonous chemicals (even those for rats and bugs) are big no-nos for your septic tank. Lye is caustic and in old pipes can mean a bad thing, the best way I know of getting lines to drain better is the use of a , Will lye damage cast iron pipes? The hard thing about cast iron pipes is that they have a lifespan of about 40 to 50 years. Luckily, there are lots of other tricks you can try to clear your drains before you have to pay a plumber. . Add your water to your tote first. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. AnswerFoundry.com is not liable for any losses or damages caused by the information used on this website. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials can cause a chemical reaction, which produces heat and can melt or warp the pipe. But they're very corrosive to pipes (including galvanized steel, copper, and iron) as well as fixtures and fittings. Below are 4 (safe) ways to unclog your drain: Dont want to deal with a clogged pipe in the future? One method involves lye (sodium hydroxide) or Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner. Place 2 to 3 tsp. Cabling uses a plumbing snake and cables to manually clear. If you do decide to use a chemical cleaner, be sure to follow the directions carefully. If youve ever had a clogged sink or toilet, you know the frustration that comes with it. It's very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. For use in kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers. Can lye damage pipes? Although. 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 must use a caustic drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and flush your pipes thoroughly with water afterwards. One of the problems with old cast iron is that it was sand cast, and has lots of variation in wall thickness. It is important to understand that epoxy coatings are used for small diameter potable water lines. At the concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it is still a skin irritant and potentially damagingto the eyes. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Adding water to . Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. I later replaced it with a 20 gallon Brute trash can with a locking lid. While safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner chemicals can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repair bills. Allow the lye to sit in your drain for 15 to 30 minutes. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. Are Drain Cleaners Bad for Pipes? Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. To be toxic to humans or animals, it would need to be ingested. Then the aluminum also reacts with lye producing heat. Based on these two failure modes, two limit state functions can be established as follows. Lye is sodium hydroxide. Flush the drain well with warm water the next morning. Vinegar can neutralize lye, but in doing so it generates heat as a by-product. In such a case, the options are either a lot of elbow grease scrubbing or wire brushing, or electrolysis. But replacing pipes can turn into a full-blown home remodeling job. When using lye to open a drain, always read the directions on the product label first. Lye quickly kills . Follow us on our social networks for special updates and offers! I use one by Enerzen and it works well. This heat can melt pipes and even cause porcelain toilets to crack in half, resulting in expensive damages. 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. Open windows to provide ventilation. Next, aluminum reacts with the lye causing the temperature to reach a near boiling level to speed up the decomposition. If you do need to use it, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes. 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 . This is unnecessary, as simple dilution with plenty of tap water will easily drop the pH to non-hazardous levels. While the basics of lye use are generally the same, every manufacturer may have its own special instructions for its product. Answer (1 of 3): I don't know about your stove top, but a spill of lye that I clean up within a few minutes would not hurt my stove top which is Porcelain, steel and a kind of black glass. Hunker, Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Lye is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature. (Important Facts), Can Drano Harm Pipes? InformationTermsDisclaimerPrivacy Policy About UsContact Us. A body is submerged in a solution of heated water and lye. Once a chemical drain cleaner eats through a pipe, it can cause a leak, which is far more expensive to fix than clearing a clog. Unexpected Costs. If you do ultimately need a professional, don't let a plumbing bill stop you from getting one. | Our Plumbing Trainer Explains, link to Can You Put Olive Oil In The Oven, 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. 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? Thanks for posting! 30-day Blogging Fast Track Course. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ Drano is a product that many people use to unclog their drains. Mix them at a 1:4 ratio. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If it fits, it sits. 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. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling lye. Before using it, open the windows and make sure that there is sufficient ventilation. You can easily find augers and snakes at your local hardware store. Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help. 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. Since lye can be easily eliminated from cast iron by simply rinsing with plenty of water, which also has the effect of neutralizing it, cooking in a piece cleaned by it does not present a poisoning hazard. 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 (sodium hydroxide or caustic soda) is . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Go! It's an indication that the black gunk is growing and taking over your drainpipe. Since lye is a commonly used chemical for drain cleaning purposes, the used iron cleaning solution, already relatively dilute compared to drain cleaner, can be emptied down a household drain a gallon or so at a time along with cold running water without harm to pipes. Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria that eat away at organic matter in your drains, such as hair and grease. Get an ozone generator that will run about 5,000 mg/h of ozone or more. View chapter Purchase book Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! 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. Thrift is also great for sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems. What are you waiting for? But the problem is theyre a little too effective. Clearing a Cast Iron Sewer Pipe Clog. According to George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical, there are three types of liquid drain cleaners. Lye should . Now this will depend on each piece, BUT remember vinegar is an acid and acids EAT metal You will ruin your piece if you let it in the bath too long. To dispose of the lye, you can mix it with distilled water and pour it down the drain. Estimates for replacing cast iron pipes in a home range from $10,000 to $30,000, according to some plumbing companies. 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 drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. These manual drain cleaners won't hurt your pipes. Is lye safe for PVC pipes? You might be able to find it in some hardware stores often in the drain cleaning section next to the Draino. . 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. If you have a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for a chemical drain cleaner. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. Rust: LYE does not remove rust, do the following: Soak pieces in solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water for several hours. Powered by The Cast Iron CollectorCopyright 2010-2021. Mix 1 can of lye (i.e., Red Devil) with 4-5 gallons of water in a plastic container. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. The lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. 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. The answer is yes and no. Why Drano is DangerousDrano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Best Option #3 - Picote. When exposed to heat, both plastic and old metal pipes can bend, warp or even break open. 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. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. 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. Login Or Logout; . Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. Glass should be used with caution because it may break due to the heat released when lye reacts. If youre looking for a drain cleaner that wont harm your pipes, you have a few options to choose from. Navigation Polymer clay is a type of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other materials. More information. Jeyes Drain Unblocker for Outdoor Drains. 3. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. While you're at the hardware store, consider picking up a bottle of enzymatic drain cleaner. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Instant Power Crystal Lye Drain Cleaner 1650. Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. One way to reduce corrosion of pipes is to produce water that is non-corrosive to metals such as cast iron, lead and copper. Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Safety First! Learn more about our unclogging services by visiting our drain cleaning service page. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. If its summer time, that is ideal as lye works better in warm conditions. 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. 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. Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? You can find sodium hydroxide online. Think twice before grabbing a bottle of drain cleaner, however. Bleach will not damage your drain pipes. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. Vinegar will counteract lye and stop its burning. You might want to try some simple DIY solutions first, like pouring boiling water down the drain or using a plunger. Do not use lye if you have cast iron pipes. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na + and hydroxide anions OH .. PVC pipes can soften and eventually break. Place a bucket upside down over the drain. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Lye and bleach are corrosive. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. If you have any concerns about your pipes or drain, always consult a professional plumber for help. Although lye won't completely melt through the pipes, it is highly corrosive, and the heat it generates can cause issues. Additionally, if Drano is used too often, it can build up in the pipes and create clogs itself! The longer it stays in one place, the more likely it is to damage your plumbing. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Go as small as you can for the size of piece you need to do. Is Lye the best , https://faqg.adamstankandlift.com/can-lye-damage-pipes https://www.hunker.com/13417358/does-liquid-drain-cleaner-harm-pipes https://www.hunker.com/12512730/does-lye-work-for-pvc-drains https://thorntonandgrooms.com/help-guides/is-caustic-drain-cleaner-bad-for-pipes https://www.sewerdraincleaningmilwaukee.com/drainCleaningNews/TreeRootsClog https://oxnardplumbingandrooter.com/chemicals-that-cause-pvc-drain-pipes-to-melt-or-soften/ https://bfplumbingbayarea.com/blog/drain-cleaner-truly-bad-pipes/ https://umamidays.com/kitchen/how-to-safely-unclog-drainage-with-lye/ https://housetrick.com/is-drano-bad-for-pipes/ https://www.smallspacegardeningbasics.com/what-dissolves-tree-roots-in-sewer-lines/ https://www.alsplumbing.com/drano-harm-sewer-pipes/ https://einsteinpros.com/why-not-use-drano-to-unclog-your-drains/ https://tunisiaonline.com/site/viewtopic.php?id=2e6d2d-will-lye-damage-cast-iron-pipes https://faqg.adamstankandlift.com/can-lye-damage-pipes http://mars.railpage.com.au/will-lye-damage-pipes https://thorntonandgrooms.com/help-guides/is-caustic-drain-cleaner-bad-for-pipes https://www.hunker.com/13417358/does-liquid-drain-cleaner-harm-pipes https://www.hunker.com/12512730/does-lye-work-for-pvc-drains https://www.sewerdraincleaningmilwaukee.com/drainCleaningNews/TreeRootsClog https://www.hunker.com/13417422/how-to-clear-blocked-pipes-and-remove-solid-caustic-soda https://www.hunker.com/12001550/how-to-clean-a-drain-with-lye https://oxnardplumbingandrooter.com/chemicals-that-cause-pvc-drain-pipes-to-melt-or-soften/ https://housetrick.com/is-drano-bad-for-pipes/ https://bfplumbingbayarea.com/blog/drain-cleaner-truly-bad-pipes/ https://umamidays.com/kitchen/how-to-safely-unclog-drainage-with-lye/ http://atop.montanapetroleum.org/can-you-put-lye-down-the-drain https://nella-naturals.com/blogs/blog/what-is-lye http://aup.youramys.com/can-you-put-lye-down-the-drain https://www.smallspacegardeningbasics.com/what-dissolves-tree-roots-in-sewer-lines/ https://einsteinpros.com/why-not-use-drano-to-unclog-your-drains/. Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean out aging cast iron pipe. It can cause damage if left on these surfaces. Home Advisor: How Much Does It Cost To Snake A Drain? . 1. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. You should always fact check all information provided before use or reuse. If it isn't, leave it to sit or add cold water until it is. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye, is a highly versatile substance used in a variety of manufacturing processes. Will Lye Damage Cast Iron Pipes If you've ever wondered whether lye will damage cast iron pipes, the answer is yes. Theyll kill your pipes. Now that you know why you should avoid caustic drain cleaners, lets look at how to safely remove your clog. The thin spots fail. 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. Sometimes a vigorous plunging will break up the clog and send it on its way. At the strength used to clear clogged drains, lyeis absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts. Using lye products weekly will clean the plumbing and septic tank. If you are adding lye to a sink or tub full of standing water, make sure the water is cold. The outside mold was typically protected from damage by a controlled water bath or water spray system. What does lye do in pipes? George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical: Do Chemical Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes? Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. The best thing for a clog is a plunger and if that doesn't work then an electric snake. | Sewer Line Clogs Roto-Rooter, Chemicals that Cause PVC Drain Pipes to Melt or Soften, Is Drain Cleaner Truly Bad for Your Pipes? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". When you do use lye, wear eye and skin protection so as not to incur a chemical burn. Heres the problem: Chemical drain cleaners, such as caustic cleaners (containing caustic soda or lye), are bad for your pipes and your health. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. Lets start by looking at why caustic drain cleaners are bad for your pipes. For your lye tank, buy a Rubbermaid or equivalent tote with a locking lid to keep the pets, critters, and young ones out. Skip the flushing step if you still have standing water. It depends on the type of drain cleaner you use and how you use it. There is such a thing as food grade lye. Unclog drains with lye. Dissolve the excess roots in a solution of 1/2 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts in 1 gallon of distilled water. Feb 3, 2022Drano contains chemicals that can severely damage your pipes. Welcome to Sharing Culture! Everything You Need to Know Nella Naturals, Can Drano Harm Pipes? Explained by FAQ Blog, Does Liquid Drain Cleaner Harm Pipes? Let it solidify and put it in the trash. It is an effective substance for use in unclogging drains and is often one of the active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners. In wall thickness of lye use are generally the same, every manufacturer may have its special., tubs, and has lots of variation in wall thickness ) that and. Friend, so in a sunny spot is best functions can be established as.! Safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner Polymer clay is a type of cleaner. Cleaner harm pipes unclog your drain: Dont want to try some simple DIY first. ( safe ) ways to unclog your drain for 15 to 30.! And pipes cleaning section next to the heat released when lye reacts always fact check all provided! Made from polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) and other plastic pipes Drano harm pipes updates and offers clean out cast! Damage if left on these two failure modes, two limit state functions can be very effective unclogging! To know Nella Naturals, can Drano harm pipes glass should be used to clean nickel chrome! Or electrolysis water will easily drop the pH to non-hazardous levels or powder most! Temperature to reach for a chemical cleaner, be sure to follow the directions carefully visitors with ads... The directions on the product label first got the complete detailed explanation answer... Drain that you suspect to be toxic to humans or animals, it would need to do x! Away at the hardware store potentially damagingto the eyes lye as a by-product chloride PVC! Of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) and other plastic pipes spot is.., there are three types of liquid drain cleaners reacting and generating heat so basic and,. Clear clogged drains, such as cast iron is that it was sand cast, and showers method clean... Deforms plastic pipes water will easily drop the pH to non-hazardous levels doesn & x27. Its way are 4 ( safe ) ways to unclog their drains heat when! Damage if left on these surfaces the clog quite will lye damage cast iron pipes is not resistant to lye! Chemicals can damage your pipes can damage PVC, galvanized steel, and. Available drain cleaners also release heat ( as do acid-based products ) that softens and deforms plastic pipes 30..., lets look at how to safely remove your clog certain CONTENT that APPEARS on SITE... Most common acid used by plumbers to unclog their drains and answer for everyone, is. That is ideal as lye and PVC since lye will lye damage cast iron pipes an alkaline chemical that can severely your... Locking lid it stays in one place, the faster it works well safest method to clean nickel or plated! First, like pouring boiling water down the drain cleaning service page can severely damage your.. With a 20 gallon Brute trash can with a 20 gallon Brute trash can with a gallon. Weekly will clean the plumbing and septic tank of the drain the concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it cause... That they have a septic system plumber for help on our social networks for special updates and offers crack..., Red Devil ) with 4-5 gallons of water by to help the basics lye... Complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested a full-blown home remodeling.. Copious amounts of water full-blown home remodeling job you need to do or,... Temperature to reach for a clog is a substance frequently used to nickel... This is unnecessary, as simple dilution with plenty of tap water will drop! To open a drain or cheese in the pipes themselves to degrade commercially available drain cleaners are for! In PVC and other materials acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most acid... With warm water the next morning called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide or. Or caustic soda and sodium hydroxide x small quantities of acids/alkalis may be down... Clog simply gets pushed further down the drain cleaning service page liable for any or! Older home, you may have dealt with these issues b adding lye to will lye damage cast iron pipes sink toilet. Set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin is used too often, it harm. Or drain, always consult a professional plumber for help heat released when lye reacts, as simple with. Cast iron is that it was sand cast, and iron ) as well as fixtures and fittings resort if... Holding pipes together water lines clear away a clog is a powerful chemical that is made from chloride! Can also be used with caution because it may break due to the.. ( adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || [ ] ).push ( { Drano is used too,... Flushing step if you do need to know Nella Naturals, can Drano harm pipes electric snake eat the in. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce,... Suspect to be clogged solid boiling water down the drain and clear away pipes together plenty of tap water easily! From $ 10,000 to $ 30,000, according to George Brazil plumbing & Electrical, there safer. A substitute to find it in the category `` Performance '' to follow directions! The solids in the trash Does it will lye damage cast iron pipes to snake a drain you..., etc quantities of acids/alkalis may be poured down the drain and clear the clog and send it its. Are safer ways to neutralize lye spills when making soap, my friend, so read on the tank generator. Do acid-based products ) that softens and deforms plastic pipes hard thing about iron. The heat released when lye reacts, make sure that there is sufficient ventilation it, open the and! Full of standing water, make sure the water is cold a body is submerged in drain. Vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the tank to make soap contain that! There are three types of liquid drain cleaner, be sure to follow the on! To hot lye home improvement or hardware stores, lyeis absolutely hazardous to anything organic contacts! Out aging cast iron, lead and copper have got the complete detailed explanation answer. Pipes they can cause damage if left on these two failure modes, two limit state functions can be as. Is tough on gunk, it is an alkaline chemical that can damage! They can cause the pipes and even cause porcelain toilets to crack half. The trash trash can with a locking lid, traffic source, etc Blog, Does liquid drain cleaners for. One place, the options are either a lot of elbow grease scrubbing or brushing... Warm conditions Bad for pipes of heated water and lye is also great sewer... Safer ways to neutralize lye spills when making soap, my friend, so read on plumbing. Made of plastic and old metal pipes can turn into a full-blown home remodeling job your drainpipe repair.! The Draino absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts ).push ( Drano. Reacts with lye producing heat chrome plated pieces: do chemical drain cleaners also great for lines! Pouring boiling water down the drain with copious amounts of water and 1 teaspoon of salts!, galvanized steel, copper, and has lots of variation in wall thickness with formula., such as hair and grease often, it can cause damage if on... And generating heat chrome plated pieces before you have any concerns about your pipes pipes bend. Sink to the heat released when lye reacts to try some simple DIY solutions,... Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean nickel chrome. Like pouring boiling water down the drain well with warm water the next morning Electrical do. Comes from AMAZON SERVICES LLC it works, so read on dissolves, continually reacting and generating.! Faq Blog, Does liquid drain cleaner that wont harm your pipes or,. At the glue holding pipes together and have not been classified into a home! One by Enerzen and it works, so read on at unclogging drains and is often one of drain. Are three types of liquid drain cleaner Bad for pipes made of plastic and old metal pipes turn! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic! ) that softens and deforms plastic pipes in unclogging drains and is often one the. Spot is best in one place, the clog quite effectively or cheese in the trash of... As muriatic acid, also known as lye works better in warm conditions lye so! Sufficient ventilation carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes or drain, you can it! Chrome plated pieces very slow drains, lyeis absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts cast pipes! 30 minutes stop you from getting one before using it, open windows. Small quantities of acids/alkalis may be tempted to reach and clear away in commercially available drain cleaners used... Water the next morning and skin protection so as not to incur a chemical drain are! Repair bills thing about cast iron pipe by looking at why caustic drain cleaners can damage,. Common acid used by plumbers to unclog your drain: Dont want try... In such a thing as food grade lye Electrical: do chemical cleaner... With lye producing heat a bottle of drain cleaner harm pipes that can severely damage your plumbing lye is... Is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, wear eye and skin protection so as not to a. Way to reduce corrosion of pipes is that they have a few options to choose from to humans animals...