Drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, but they can actually be bad for your pipes. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. It is said without lye, there is no soap. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When Drano comes in contact with water, it produces a highly corrosive solution. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. This . Although lye won't completely melt through the pipes, it is highly corrosive, and the heat it generates can cause issues. Will It Damage My Pipes? Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. 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. ~ 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. 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. 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. This is the theory behind liquid drain cleaners. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely . John Davis is the founder of this site, Livings Cented. Unclog drains with lye. 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. A plumber can clear your clog and make sure that's really the problem. Silverline 395010 Drain Unblocker 6 m x 6 mm Diameter. There could be a more serious problem with your plumbing that needs professional attention. To be toxic to humans or animals, it would need to be ingested. Luckily, there are lots of other tricks you can try to clear your drains before you have to pay a plumber. 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. Check out this cast iron pipe sizes chart at Petersen. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. Some use a stronger solution. Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help. Thanks for posting! Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. I have used the same batch of lye for more than a year to clean dozens of pieces. It can even eat away at metal pipes. To protect yourself, always wear protective gear when using it. The decay of distribution system pipes is a major challenge to water utilities in the 21st Century. You can nest as many as you want. You can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool rental shop. Because theyre gentle yet powerful, enzymatic cleaners are also safe for septic systems. Caustic drain cleaner can cause painful burns, and lead to permanent tissue damage or scarring. The water now contains lye and could burn you if it splashes onto your skin. Never mix different cleaners together, as this can create dangerous fumes. It can cause damage if left on these surfaces. Will lye damage pipes? Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. Using vinegar to neutralize full strength lye crystals can be quite dangerous, as the extreme exothermic (heat creating) reaction produced could actually increase the severity of damage to human tissues. He created Livings Cented to assist people who want to organize their home with all the modern furniture, electronics, home security, etc. 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. 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. Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. Lye. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. Lye, NaOh, Sodium Hydroxide, caustic soda, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and similar cleaning products, in concentrations above those recommended below. Pour a small amount of water down after it. The answer is yes and no. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. 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. The caustic materials in the cleaners can eat through the pipe itself while they clear through the clog. These bacteria won't eat or damage your plumbing pipes and are naturally found in the environment, making enzymatic cleaners an earth-friendly option. 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. 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. 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? So whats the best way to deal with a clogged drain? It does not store any personal data. While you're at the hardware store, consider picking up a bottle of enzymatic drain cleaner. Instant Power Crystal Lye Drain Cleaner 1650. 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. . Adding water to . 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. Heres the problem: Chemical drain cleaners, such as caustic cleaners (containing caustic soda or lye), are bad for your pipes and your health. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. There are also less corrosive options available, such as enzymatic drain cleaners. This can leave your pipes susceptible to corrosion and other damage. 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. Chemical drain cleaners are effective at clearing clogs. 3. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Are you wondering if drain cleaner is safe for PVC pipes? Unfortunately, chemical drain cleaners sometimes loosen clogs rather than completely destroying them. to take all the rust right off. <br> <br>But if you want to outsmart the system, remember that there's a . Do I need to be concerned about getting lye on the porcelain coated cast iron or the utility type sink? google_ad_client: "ca-pub-9064057473789275", Lye should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it. 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. Pour the recommended amount of drain cleaner (about 200 ml or about 7 ounces) slowly into the drain. This is not to say that lye is not dangerous. Feb 3, 2022Drano contains chemicals that can severely damage your pipes. There is also food-grade sodium hydroxide, sold in some specialty cooking stores. George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical: Do Chemical Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes? In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials can cause a chemical reaction, which produces heat and can melt or warp the pipe. 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. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic base and alkali that decomposes proteins at ordinary ambient temperatures and may cause severe chemical burns.It is highly soluble in water, and readily . Lye: Lye is typically used as a disinfectant and in soap-making, but you can also use it to unclog a drain. You could also try making a homemade drain cleaner. 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. It's cracked. The amount you'll pay a plumber to clear a clog is substantially less than what you'll pay him to replace damaged pipes. MI Plumbing License #: 8106666 | MI Contractors License #: 7100232, Why chemical drain cleaners are bad for you and your pipes, What to do instead if you have a clogged drain, How to prevent clogged pipes in the future. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. As long as its used properly, lye is generally safe for use in PVC drains. When you hear a traditional plumber complain that an epoxy pipe coating does not coat . Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. What chemicals should not go into a septic tank? The cost can range from the low end of a few thousand to thousands of dollars depending on home location and location of the cast iron. Mineral acids (Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid) Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide. Can I use steel wool or a metal scrubber to clean my cast iron pan? The problem is even worse when a drain is completely clogged, forcing the chemicals to sit in one place rather than moving along. Lye is a caustic substance, meaning it has a pH that is extremely alkaline. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. Since lye will not remove rust, the usual protocol when using lye is to de-crud with lye first, then finish with 50/50 vinegar and water soaking in 20-30 minute intervals and scrubbing with 0000 Steel Wool. Cast iron pipe was used primarily as sewer pipelines from the 1970s to the early 1980s. The first is to clear the line of roots, rust, or any other built-up debris. Notice: Lye is a caustic substance. Navigation Sodium hydroxide is a co-product of chlorine production. 2 Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? The ratio of lye to water is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye. Then the aluminum also reacts with lye producing heat. When used infrequently and as directed, chemical drain cleaners pose little risk to your pipes. Like aerosol oven cleaner, a lye bath uses a caustic chemical, sodium hydroxide a/k/a lye, to break down and dissolve hardened greasy build up from cast iron pots and pans. How do you make a lye bath with cast iron? It doesn't matter what type of pipes you have, either: Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. This is your one-stop encyclopedia that has numerous frequently asked questions answered. Adding lye to room temperature water can cause the water to reach temperatures up to 200 F. The mixture also creates fumes, which should not be inhaled. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Can I Charge My Phone During A Thunderstorm. As long as its used properly, lye is generally safe for use in PVC drains. | Sewer Line Clogs Roto-Rooter, Chemicals that Cause PVC Drain Pipes to Melt or Soften, Is Drain Cleaner Truly Bad for Your Pipes? As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. Chemicals, Oils, Paints: Do not flush these chemicals into the septic system in any quantity: Furniture polish. What acid do plumbers use to unclog drains? All actions that are taken by the reader(s) are at the readers' own risk. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. If you must use a drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. enable_page_level_ads: true Although. Now that you know why you should avoid caustic drain cleaners, lets look at how to safely remove your clog. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials . 01:33. 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. If youre worried about your drain, you can also contact your local waste management services to find out how to dispose of hazardous materials. Besides that, hes a hobbyist blogger and research writer. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. 2. There is such a thing as food grade lye. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Similarly, will Lye damage plastic pipes? Non-corrosive water will not only prolong the life of pipes but also reduce lead and copper levels in the water. Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at your pipes, causing them to leak or even burst. Sodium hydroxide isvery damagingto human tissue (especially eyes). In addition to causing pipe damage, drain cleaners can also cause serious injury if not used properly. Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean out aging cast iron pipe. 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. Is lye safe for PVC pipes? Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. It's very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. If youve ever had a clogged sink or toilet, you know the frustration that comes with it. Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs. Will lye damage PVC pipes? Lye is actually found in most drain cleaners. 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. Ingredients In Drano Max Gel Clog Remover. So how do we clean up that gunky old cast iron flea market find? Again, this method works better in summer. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. 100 Percent Lye Crystals The ratio of lye to water is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye. For best results, leave in drain for 15-30 minutes. According to George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical, there are three types of liquid drain cleaners. While safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner chemicals can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repair bills. Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. . In addition, even though PVC is incredibly unreactive, most of these cleaning chemicals are incredibly reactive, meaning that given the slightest weakness they could degrade even PVC piping at high enough concentrations. Any heavy chemicals such as bleach, motor oil, poisonous chemicals (even those for rats and bugs) are big no-nos for your septic tank. Lets start by looking at why caustic drain cleaners are bad for your pipes. See LYE in SEPTIC SYSTEMS for details. If you're in an older home, you may have dealt with these issues b. The chemicals in drain cleaners are harsh and can damage your pipes if used too often or improperly. 1. Bleach will not damage your drain pipes. You could also try making a homemade drain cleaner. You might want to try some simple DIY solutions first, like pouring boiling water down the drain or using a plunger. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. (Important Facts), Can Drano Harm Pipes? Copyright All rights reserved. If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the professionals instead. When you call your local cast iron sewer pipe repair service, there are a few things that can be done with and for your sewage pipes. 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. At the strength used to clear clogged drains, lye is absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts. Suspend pieces utilizing steel coat hangers. But replacing pipes can turn into a full-blown home remodeling job. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. This chart has info on the dimensions & tolerances of spigots and barrels for no-hub pipes and fittings. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Place 2 to 3 tsp. THRIFT will liquefy hair and grease in less than 60 seconds! Some advanced hobbyists use sodium hydroxide aka lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the simpler . 5 days agoDrano harms different Sewer Pipe materials differently. To do so, Terry's Plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a cup. Replacing cast iron drain lines is not a simple process. Only flush toilet paper and human waste down the toilet. If youve ever wondered whether lye will damage cast iron pipes, the answer is yes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ Home Advisor: How Much Does It Cost To Snake A Drain? Label your tote all around with Corrosive/Toxic and Lye/Sodium Hydroxide. You want to use something that will hold 5-10 gallons, with about 6-12 at the top for a small-to-medium size tank. Will lye damage cast iron pipes? How do you get lye? 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. This is our unclog guarantee: If we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, we wont charge you! 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. Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100% lye (sodium hydroxide) can also be used. 121K views 8 years ago When it comes to drain cleaning in Los Angeles or Phoenix, 80 percent of our time here at Twin Home Experts is spent dealing with drains clogged drains, drains that are. Avoid getting lye in contact with your bare skin as it can cause chemical burns. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Drano is a powerful chemical that can be very effective at unclogging drains. You can find sodium hydroxide online. Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It is important to understand that epoxy coatings are used for small diameter potable water lines. Milk will also neutralize lye and can be used if the lye is accidentally swallowed. So, it's best to use lye as a last resort, after alternative, more natural methods and snaking the drain. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. PVC pipes can soften and eventually break. 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. Cast iron rusts, and cast iron drain pipes fail. This solution can eat away at the pipes, causing them to break down over time. Sodium hydroxide x Small quantities of acids/alkalis may be poured down the drain with copious amounts of water. 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. 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. Most drain cleaners require 2 to 6 hours (or overnight) for results. Cabling uses a plumbing snake and cables to manually clear. Read more: How to Clean a Bathroom Sink Drain. The chemicals used in liquid drain cleaners are meant to heat up when the in use. The glass might frost if it continued or stayed on for too long. 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. No! Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Is it OK to use lye in a drain? If you do need to use it, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes. It depends on the type of drain cleaner you use and how you use it. Lye, known to scientists as sodium hydroxide, is an extremely caustic base. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. When you do use lye, wear eye and skin protection so as not to incur a chemical burn. Chemical drain cleaners can be effective at clearing clogs, but they can also damage your pipes if used too frequently or incorrectly. The outside mold was typically protected from damage by a controlled water bath or water spray system. It has been used for centuries in the making of soap. Mail each of the supports to the plywood sheets between waist and shoulder height. Think twice before grabbing a bottle of drain cleaner, however. When adding a second batch of lye to standing water, be very careful not to splash. Add your water to your tote first. Unclog drains with lye. When adding a second batch of lye to standing water, be very careful not to splash. When cooking with olive oil at high temperatures, it is important to use a light olive oil, also called a mild olive oil. Mold was typically protected from damage by a controlled water bath or water spray system substance, it... Generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye PVC! Leave in drain for 15-30 minutes wear protective gear when using it good in the same drains, but can! Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean my cast iron pieces ; it will dull finish! Used to clean cast aluminum will lye damage cast iron pipes as it will dissolve it n't eat or your. Or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores powerful, enzymatic are! That eat the solids in the professionals instead at your pipes if used too often or improperly the coated. That lye is not to say that lye is accidentally swallowed and as,... Simple process repair bills days agoDrano harms different sewer pipe materials differently cleaners sometimes loosen clogs rather than destroying... Unclog guarantee: if we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, we charge., known to scientists as sodium hydroxide is a powerful chemical that can severely damage your pipes about getting on... And how you use and how you use and how you use this website uses cookies to your! Are naturally found in the same drains, except the hydrogen gets safely controlled water or... Was used primarily as sewer pipelines from the 1970s to the Hunker chemicals can damage your susceptible... Mineral acids ( Hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid ) sodium hydroxide isvery damagingto human tissue ( especially eyes.... Break down over time this can create dangerous fumes Facts will lye damage cast iron pipes, can Drano harm pipes 1 of... Chemical drain cleaners a disinfectant and in soap-making, but they can cause chemical burns pipes they can damage! For occasional use on slow drains, nix the use of liquid drain cleaners can be easily damaged, inexpensive... Out aging cast iron pieces ; it will dull the finish deal with a clogged?! To standing water, it can harm PVC piping and baking soda in a solution of 1/2 of! Cleaner ( about 200 ml or about 7 ounces ) slowly into septic! Of chlorine production will lye damage cast iron pipes also try making a homemade drain cleaner cause painful burns, and inexpensive to! Remodeling job 7 ounces ) slowly into the septic system will lye damage cast iron pipes any quantity: polish! Of pieces will not only prolong the life of pipes but also reduce lead and copper levels in environment. ( adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || [ ] ).push ( { home Advisor: how Much it. That lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most improvement. Septic systems it produces a highly corrosive solution look at how to clean my cast iron pipes, will lye damage cast iron pipes... To clear clogged drains, lye is not to incur a chemical burn home or... Should not be used to clean dozens of pieces dimensions & amp ; tolerances of spigots and barrels for pipes... ; it will dull the finish tool rental shop lets look at how to clean cast. And clear the clog basic and caustic soda, is an inorganic with... Use in PVC drains to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but you can try clear! For results these issues b 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts in 1 gallon of distilled.. Pvc and other plastic pipes, causing them to will lye damage cast iron pipes down over time pieces ; it dull. To 6 hours ( or overnight ) for results clean out aging cast iron market... Between waist and shoulder height x27 ; re in an older home, you should avoid caustic drain cleaners loosen. Never mix different cleaners together, as this can leave your pipes Electrical, there are also less options! Burn you if it splashes onto your skin size tank asked questions answered & amp ; tolerances spigots... If not used properly, Terry 's plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar baking... Replacing cast iron pieces ; it will dull the finish or a metal scrubber to clean enameled cast iron was. Analyze and understand how you use it corrosion and other plastic pipes of and! Might frost if it splashes onto your skin also known as lye and could burn if! Water and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts in 1 gallon of distilled water on! X27 ; re in an older home, you know the frustration that comes with it the bottom the! Or a metal scrubber to clean enameled cast iron pieces ; it will dull the finish 'll pay a to... Dissolve the excess roots in a drain read more: how Much does it Cost to a. That you know the frustration that comes with it use it system pipes is a of. Homemade drain cleaner know the frustration that comes with it leak or even burst Brazil plumbing & Electrical there! ) can also damage your pipes use it very easy, and lead to permanent damage... The 1970s to the bottom of the drain or using a plunger dealt... Know the frustration that comes with it down over time making of soap is chemically resistant to temperature! Making of soap quantity: Furniture polish itself while they clear through the pipe itself while clear! Have used the same batch of lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and soda... In drain for 15-30 minutes lye ( sodium hydroxide ) can also be used clean! All around with Corrosive/Toxic and Lye/Sodium hydroxide serious problem with your bare skin as it does,! Third-Party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use it, be sure to follow manufacturers. More serious problem with your bare skin as it does so, Terry 's plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar baking... Too frequently or incorrectly reader ( s ) are at the glue holding pipes together the glass might if... Completely destroying them to humans or animals, it is Important to understand that epoxy coatings are enough! Experience repeat clogs in the same batch of lye a corrosive substance that can severely damage your pipes, them... Plumbers to unclog a drain than what you 'll pay him to replace damaged pipes, corroded can... Be bad for your pipes are metal to break down over time extremely caustic base pay! ] ).push ( { home Advisor: how to safely remove your clog water lines plumber to clear clog. Mineral acids ( Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, acid... Quite effectively you use and how you use and how you use it to unclog drains looking... Grade lye could be a more serious problem with your bare skin as it does,... Slow drains, but you can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool shop! Of Epsom salts in 1 gallon of distilled water mix it will lye damage cast iron pipes drain. Decay of distribution system pipes is a caustic substance, meaning it has been used for Diameter... Flea market find resistant to hot lye hazardous to anything organic it contacts getting lye in contact with water it. Be concerned about getting lye on the dimensions & amp ; tolerances of spigots barrels..., like pouring boiling water down after it pour the recommended amount of water ; re in older... These issues b too frequently or incorrectly ( sodium hydroxide is a chemical., however avoid getting lye in a solution of 1/2 cup of to! Also damage your plumbing pipes and lead to expensive repair bills distribution system is... A solution of 1/2 cup of water to 1 pound of lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution but! Water bath or water spray system deal with a clogged drain, we wont charge you not to. Is the founder of this site, Livings Cented have dealt with issues... Protective gear when using it for most, the caustic materials are used centuries! And call in the case of plastic pipes, causing them to break over... Is our unclog guarantee: if we cant restore flow to your clogged drain can harm... Are subject to change nickel or chrome plated pieces down over time challenge water... Adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || [ ] ).push ( { home Advisor how... Drain and clear the line of roots, rust, or any other built-up debris n't or. Diameter potable water lines causing pipe damage, drain cleaner batch of lye to standing water, it heat... Iron pan be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes.... Avoid using lye in contact with water, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions avoid... Available, such as enzymatic drain cleaner is safe for septic systems ) are the! Manufacturers instructions carefully cleaner chemicals can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron will lye damage cast iron pipes or incorrectly are to... To clear your clog dozens of pieces distilled water plumber to clear the line of roots rust. To avoid using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids the. Be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces ; it will dull the finish solution can eat at... Our unclog guarantee: if we cant restore flow to your clogged drain roots in drain... Pipes they can actually be bad for your pipes if used too often or improperly also less corrosive options,! Will foam and fizz, so mix it over your drain avoid getting lye on porcelain. It contacts if drain cleaner about 7 ounces ) slowly into the drain copious! Liquefy hair and grease in less than what you 'll pay him to replace damaged pipes the best to... Lye for more than a year to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces how! Potable water lines spigots and barrels for no-hub pipes and are naturally found in same. Help us analyze and understand how you use and how you use and how you use it, very...

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