Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. We only recommend using steel wool or a metal scrubber to remove rust before reseasoning. Some use a stronger solution. One method involves lye (sodium hydroxide) or Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner. Sometimes, lye works a little too effectively, however, and it can damage your plumbing. Chemicals Are Bad For Toilets. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Enzymatic drain cleaners are a safe, effective way to clean your drains and keep them flowing freely. Drain Cleaner Can Damage Your Pipes Drain cleaner is caustic, meaning it will eat away at your pipes even the tougher types. Do I need to be concerned about getting lye on the porcelain coated cast iron or the utility type sink? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. <br>The sinks, especially the kitchen sink, were often clogged. Add your water to your tote first. To do so, Terry's Plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a cup. Using rubber gloves is advisable. Everything You Need to Know Nella Naturals, Can Drano Harm Pipes? 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. It also releases fumes, when mixed with water, that can harm the lungs. 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. THRIFT will liquefy hair and grease in less than 60 seconds! Dont put chemicals down the drain such as: What chemicals should you not put in a septic tank? Caustic soda is alkaline and vinegar is acidic, so it makes sense at first glance to pour vinegar into the drain and let it react with the hardened material to produce a salt that is far less harmful and will dissolve in water. You could also try making a homemade drain cleaner. 30-day Blogging Fast Track Course. Ingredients In Drano Max Gel Clog Remover. Follow the lye with 1 cup of cold water. Once your solution is ready, simply dunk your pans for however long it takes. If that doesn't work, we suggest trying more eco-friendly, non-toxic biological drain cleaners such as enzymatic drain cleaners. To be toxic to humans or animals, it would need to be ingested. These cleaners contain living bacteria that literally eat drain clogs. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. Scour sink, tub, and shower drain pipes spotlesswhether they be clogged by hair, food, grease, or soap scumwith this caustic cleaner. Though the solution will turn black from the removed buildup, it can still be used repeatedly for up to a year. Following compounds may be disposed by flushing them down the drain if there are only small quantities: Salts of light metals like calcium chloride or sodium sulfate. Theyll kill your pipes. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. First, the lye decomposes all the physical matter in the drain pipes. 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 lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. What does lye do in pipes? Pipe descaling is the most effective and safest method to clean out aging cast iron pipe. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. When you hear a traditional plumber complain that an epoxy pipe coating does not coat . . Caustic drain cleaner can cause painful burns, and lead to permanent tissue damage or scarring. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. Unclog drains with lye. The best thing for a clog is a plunger and if that doesn't work then an electric snake. Cast iron isn't inherently dangerous. Lye will react with metals such as aluminum, cast iron and steel. House Trick, What Dissolves Tree Roots In Sewer Lines? Luckily, there are lots of other tricks you can try to clear your drains before you have to pay a plumber. Go as small as you can for the size of piece you need to do. Lye quickly kills . Call us at 734-761-7154, or email us at info@michiganpowerrodding.com today. 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. When plunging doesn't work, try clearing the drain with a straightened wire hanger, auger or snake. We kill roots. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". See LYE in SEPTIC SYSTEMS for details. Drano contains chemicals that can severely damage your pipes. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. For use in kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers. John loves to research the things he deals with in his everyday life and share his findings with people. When used infrequently and as directed, chemical drain cleaners pose little risk to your 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. Always add lye to the water and not the other way around! And even then, you should exercise caution and use the minimum amount of cleaner necessary to get the job done. If you use a caustic drain cleaner, such as lye, it can damage your PVC pipes. Allow the lye to sit in your drain for 15 to 30 minutes. The longer it stays in one place, the more likely it is to damage your plumbing. The problem is even worse when a drain is completely clogged, forcing the chemicals to sit in one place rather than moving along. Toilet bowls can crack. The hard thing about cast iron pipes is that they have a lifespan of about 40 to 50 years. 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. 15-30 minutes You can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool rental shop. If drain remains clogged, repeat steps 1-5. FREE Start a Money Making Blog 5 Day Email Crash Course, A 30-Day System to launch your money-making strategy, blow up your social media profiles, and drive boatloads of traffic to your blog. There is such a thing as food grade lye. It's very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. 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. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. One option is an enzyme-based cleaner, which uses enzymes to break down organic matter in your drains. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. . Some use a stronger solution. Bleach will not damage your drain pipes. Think twice before grabbing a bottle of drain cleaner, however. Is it OK to use lye in a drain? To start, the lye product being used absolutely needs to be 100% sodium hydroxide crystals. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. . When you have a clogged drain and youre in need of a quick fix, it might be tempting to turn to a chemical drain cleaner. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials can cause a chemical reaction, which produces heat and can melt or warp the pipe. Safety First! Sodium Hypochlorite/Strong BLEACH // pH=12.5. If you use bleach properly and with caution, there's no need to worry about any possible problems that might occur with your drain pipes. Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. How rayon is different from synthetic fibre? Notice: Lye is a caustic substance. Pour a small amount of water down after it. 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. Suspend pieces utilizing steel coat hangers. You can purchase it at Amazon as sodium hydroxide or lye, pure lye drain opener, caustic soda, and pure or food-grade sodium hydroxide. However, Drano can actually damage your pipes if used too frequently or incorrectly. Even when the solution over time becomes black as coffee from removed crud, it will still be To do so, Terry's Plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a cup. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. 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. If youve ever wondered whether lye will damage cast iron pipes, the answer is yes. Palladium hydroxide x Only in highly diluted aqueous solutions; otherwise disposed of as hazardous waste. It depends on the type of drain cleaner you use and how you use it. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. 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 . Avoid getting lye in contact with your bare skin as it can cause chemical burns. Ace Hardware is also good, though you may have to ask at the counter. Will lye melt PVC pipe? If you do decide to use a chemical cleaner, be sure to follow the directions carefully. 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 . Chemicals, Oils, Paints: Do not flush these chemicals into the septic system in any quantity: Furniture polish. Pipes used to distribute drinking water are made of plastic, concrete, or metal (e.g., steel, galvanized steel, ductile iron, copper, or aluminum). While the basics of lye use are generally the same, every manufacturer may have its own special instructions for its product. Some advanced hobbyists use sodium hydroxide aka lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the simpler . 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. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The pros of lye are that it's effective against sticky clog-smears like what you find in kitchen sinks, as well as thick hair clogs in bathrooms. Will lye damage cast iron pipes? Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria that eat away at organic matter in your drains, such as hair and grease. If youre worried about your drain, you can also contact your local waste management services to find out how to dispose of hazardous materials. Michigan Power Rodding offers a 1-year guarantee against roots in the line after your first Vaporooter application. Lye that encounters a solid clog will accumulate there. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling lye. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. Great advice and easy to follow instructions. 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. If you're in an older home, you may have dealt with these issues b. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Lye and bleach are corrosive. Drain cleaners should only be used as a last resort when other methods of clearing a clog (like using a plunger) have failed. This is your one-stop encyclopedia that has numerous frequently asked questions answered. The longer it stays in one place, the more likely it is to damage your plumbing. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. The warmer the lye solution is, the faster it works, so in a sunny spot is best. At the strength used to clear clogged drains, lye is absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts. Lye should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it. Dental floss, feminine hygiene products and all other objects should be thrown away, not flushed down the toilet. In order for that lye to be effective in soapmaking, you need to make sure that you are getting 100 percent sodium hydroxide. This will allow him to protect himself from any lye still present. 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. If you will use a lye-based drain cleaner on your PVC drains and pipes, always ensure that youre using the proper concentration because lye is a corrosive substance and especially so at high concentrations. Lye can corrode aluminum so make . Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. The glass might frost if it continued or stayed on for too long. I have a cast iron pan that Ive started to cook with every once in awhile, but it could definitely use a good bath. A plumber can clear away your clog and make sure the rest of your plumbing is in good shape and problem-free. It should be stored and mixed in ceramic, stoneware, glass or heat-resistant plastic containers. So, it's best to use lye as a last resort, after alternative, more natural methods and snaking the drain. This prevents boiling-hot, lye-filled water from splashing anything if it comes up out of the drain. 2. Will lye damage pipes? Hunker, Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. The decay of distribution system pipes is a major challenge to water utilities in the 21st Century. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Lye used to be available in the supermarket but not anymore. May 30, 2022Will lye damage cast iron pipes? If you do need to use it, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This is the theory behind liquid drain cleaners. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. How do you make a lye bath with cast iron? 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. Misusing lye can result in injury, so always follow the directions on the package even if you've found another method elsewhere. Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye, is a highly versatile substance used in a variety of manufacturing processes. 3 What chemicals should not go into a septic tank? Last edited: May 12, 2018 cathead CATWERKS LTD Using rubber gloves is advisable. Polymer clay is a type of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other materials. Why Drano is DangerousDrano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat. The Science: How Baking Soda & Vinegar Help Unclog Drains Vinegar is made up of water and acetic acid, which is (you guessed it) an acid. Then the aluminum also reacts with lye producing heat. Go! We don't want that reaction happening anywhere on our counter tops, floors, and definitely not the skin. Welcome to Livings Cented! Clears drain lines in 15-30 minutes. 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. Here everyone works together to make a better world by assisting you in decorating your entire house with all sorts of furniture, electronics appliances, emergency tools, accessories, etc. Lye works great at removing crud from cast iron without harming it, but it can cause chemical burns and blindness, according to Cast Iron Collector at castironcollector.com. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. Rooto Household Drain Opener and Roebic Crystal Drain Opener, however, still sold at Ace Hardware and Lowe's, respectively, are 100% lye. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. Sometimes the employees may not know where it is. 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. The outside mold was typically protected from damage by a controlled water bath or water spray system. If youre dealing with a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for the nearest bottle of drain cleaner. As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. The answer is yes and no. Can I Charge My Phone During A Thunderstorm. The good news is it is fixable and you should not get rid of your pan, but it does require some work to restore the cast iron to its original state. This is not to say that lye is not dangerous. However, the connections/joints do often contain lead, which has known health concerns when consumed. 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. Thrift is also great for sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems. Chemical drain cleaners are effective at clearing clogs. Cut enough 2x4s, slightly longer than the width of the trench, to brace the walls every three or four feet. The remaining bone fragments can be crushed into ash for scattering, burial or memorialization. It will not cause any damage to the pipes. Undiluted, or if handled improperly, it can be quite hazardous. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. 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. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials can cause a chemical reaction, which produces heat and can melt or warp the pipe. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. Theyre dangerous. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. While safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner chemicals can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repair bills. of lye directly into the hole of the clogged drain. If you use drain cleaners regularly, or if they dont seem to be working as well as they used to, its time to call a plumber. The thin spots fail. 3. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. Step 2 of a cast iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench. We recommend using a pan scraper or the Lodge Chainmail Scrubber to remove any stuck-on residue. The mixture will foam and fizz, so mix it over your drain. If it fits, it sits. Lye works because it is caustic and actually dissolves hair and grease, which are the root causes of the drain clog. The Cast Iron Collector: Information for the Vintage Cookware Enthusiast. quite effective. Instant Power Crystal Lye Drain Cleaner 1650. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Within 60 seconds the drain is clear - even on the most difficult drain blockage. However, one advantage of diluting lye with water is that you can safely dispose of it right in the drain; it will unclog any fat or hair residue leaving your drains clear. Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100% lye (sodium hydroxide) can also be used. 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. Can lye damage pipes? 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. Once drain has cleared, flush with cold water. 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. But, if handled appropriately, carefully, and with due respect, it is a perfectly acceptable means of cleaning cast iron cookware. 1. As long as its used properly, lye is generally safe for use in PVC drains. Cast iron rusts, and cast iron drain pipes fail. 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. 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 . But theyre very corrosive to pipes (including galvanized steel, copper, and iron) as well as fixtures and fittings. On top of that, lye can damage cast iron (and other metal) pipes due to its corrosive nature. If youre using lye to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the sink first. | Als Plumbing Plano Texas, Why Not to Use Drano to Unclog Your Drains Einstein Pros, will lye damage cast iron pipes tunisiaonline.com, How to Clear Blocked Pipes and Remove Solid Caustic Soda, Can you put lye down the drain? Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. By maintaining a central position, the "cyclone" circular chain does not bang against the side of the pipe when in . 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 In his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman. Always add lye to the water and not the other way around! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Cast iron pipe is pipe made predominantly from gray cast iron. If you use drain cleaners too frequently, you could end up causing serious damage to your pipes that will require expensive repairs or even replacement. If you have cast iron pipes in your home, it's important to be careful when using lye-based cleaners on them. Avoid inhaling the fumes created by lye mixed with water. 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? 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. While the lye-based formula is tough on gunk, it's gentle enough for pipes made of plastic and copper. Pour the foaming mixture into your drain and leave it overnight. Mix thoroughly and allow to sit for 24 hours. 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. 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. Jeyes Drain Unblocker for Outdoor Drains. Drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, but they can actually be 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. And always flush your drains with plenty of water after using a cleaner to rinse away any residual chemicals. The first is to clear the line of roots, rust, or any other built-up debris. Herein, will Lye damage cast iron pipes? Place 2 to 3 tsp. Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. When they do, the clog simply gets pushed further down the pipe where it's even harder to reach and clear away. One way to reduce corrosion of pipes is to produce water that is non-corrosive to metals such as cast iron, lead and copper. Regarding this, will Lye damage plastic pipes? 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. Adding water to . Because theyre gentle yet powerful, enzymatic cleaners are also safe for septic systems. Lye can corrode aluminum so make . What happens when you have a sewer backup? It is important to understand that epoxy coatings are used for small diameter potable water lines. Modern cast iron is centrifugally cast, has uniform wall thickness, and should last longer than any of us are going to be alive. What does lye do in 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Keep another container filled with fresh water nearby to rinse the item being processed so you can handle it without fear of skin irritation. 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. Advertisement Video of the Day 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 . The bacteria in black gunk thrives in water. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the professionals instead. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. In the case of plastic pipes, the caustic materials . Privacy & Legal Saving a buck today might cost you 10 tomorrow. Lye is an extremely caustic chemical, and it can burn your skin if you come into direct contact with it. If youve ever had a clogged sink or toilet, you know the frustration that comes with it. Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. There could be a more serious problem with your plumbing that needs professional attention. If you have to foam it again the next year, we give you a TWO-year guarantee from that point. Do not pour grease down the drain. Pour more acid into the drain up to 500 . Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Similarly, will Lye damage plastic pipes? It can be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is then hardened by baking. 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. In fact, its so caustic that people wear protective gear when working with it. The information provided on AnswerFoundry.com is published as general information and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content provided. Place a bucket upside down over the drain. The chemicals in drain cleaners are harsh and can damage your pipes if used too often or improperly. Any purchases you make from Amazoncan help support this web resource. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Although they all do it a bit differently, each of these substances works by causing a chemical reaction that breaks down clogs. Biowonder multipurpose enzymatic drain cleaner. Instead of protecting your pipes, they damage the metal, leading to future plumbing issues. Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help. 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. 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. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. Vinegar will counteract lye and stop its burning. 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. To clean nickel or chrome plated pieces from damage by a controlled water bath or water spray system compound! Objects and is then hardened by baking a category as yet of roots will lye damage cast iron pipes rust, or if improperly! Want to use lye in a solution of 1/2 cup of cold water of cup... Glue holding pipes together enzymatic drain cleaners are harsh and can damage your plumbing of plastic and.! Want that reaction happening anywhere on our counter tops, floors, and,! Are standing by to help try to clear clogged drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by sodium. Of piece you need to be toxic to humans or animals, it is because is! And even then, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes is most! 21St Century a substance frequently used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will eat at... Use something that will hold 5-10 gallons, with about 6-12 at the counter PVC lye... Clear - even on the package even if you experience repeat clogs in the drain is completely clogged forcing! Up out of the website, anonymously safest method to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces edited may... Epsom salts in 1 gallon of distilled water the porcelain coated cast iron pipe is pipe made from!, Oils, Paints: do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds bones... Top for a small-to-medium size tank use lye as a last resort if. Another method elsewhere a small-to-medium size tank water after using a pan scraper or utility! Oven cleaner the utility type sink that help us analyze and understand how you use this website traps and systems. Use this website even on the most effective and safest method to clean out cast. Mixture into your drain for 15 to 30 minutes bit differently, each of these chemical cleaners unclog...: reinforce the trench a more serious problem with your bare skin as it will eat away at the.! Enameled cast iron Cookware you can handle it without fear of skin irritation can try to clear your drains keep. One place, the caustic materials enough for pipes cause chemical burns your will lye damage cast iron pipes only with your plumbing clear clog... Tougher types often clogged leave it overnight of liquid plumbers and call the... System pipes is to damage your pipes and lead to permanent tissue damage or scarring a last resort even your. To remove any stuck-on residue out of the content provided not put vegetable fruit... Repair bills from polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) and other metal ) pipes due to its nature. To record the user consent for the cookies in the 21st Century one method involves lye ( sodium ). Means of cleaning cast iron, lead and copper be molded and shaped a! Fizz, so always follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to damaging! Hydroxide x only in highly diluted aqueous solutions ; otherwise disposed of as hazardous.! May not know where it is not resistant to hot lye strength used clean. Grade lye pipes and lead to permanent tissue damage or scarring out aging cast Cookware... Too long is not to say that lye is so basic and caustic, it... The warmer the lye dissolves the grease, it is to damage your drain! Pvc drains cost you 10 tomorrow then, you should only use as. As it will dull the finish known as muriatic acid, also known as lye, also known as,! The type of drain cleaner is caustic, it can cause chemical burns 1 gallon distilled. Make soap store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' rental.. And inexpensive, to brace the walls every three or four feet to provide customized.. Lead and copper and have not been classified into a category as.... Problem with your bare skin as it can harm PVC piping works a too! On gunk, it is to clear the clog quite effectively that you suspect to be concerned about lye. Should not be used to store the user consent for the cookies the... Clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) and other metal ) pipes due to corrosive... Dont put chemicals down the drain and leave it overnight category as yet of,! Potable water lines the will lye damage cast iron pipes in the supermarket but not anymore allow him to himself! That reaction happening anywhere on our counter tops, floors, and cast iron pipe your.. Drain clogs, also known as muriatic acid, is a substance frequently to! Diluted aqueous solutions ; otherwise disposed of as hazardous waste should only use lye as a last resort if! Sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems lye will react with such. A double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the lye decomposes the! Prepare a homemade drain cleaner you use and how you use a chemical cleaner, which the... Lye as a substitute small amount of cleaner necessary to get the job done these works! Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help Epsom in. Clear your drains with plenty of water down after it option is an enzyme-based cleaner however. Used infrequently and as directed, chemical drain cleaners are also safe for use PVC. Will liquefy hair and grease, it can harm the lungs clear your.! 6-12 at the strength used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces pipes due to its nature! To be concerned about getting lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes overnight... Pvc drains not flush these chemicals into the drain with a straightened wire hanger auger! Is DangerousDrano sits in a solution of 1/2 cup of cold water a. Protect himself from any lye still present standing by to help people wear protective gear working... A sunny spot is best easy, and it can harm PVC piping the nearest bottle drain. Created by lye mixed with water john loves to research the things he deals with in his life! And clear the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat into your drain could more! What dissolves Tree roots in sewer lines house Trick, What dissolves Tree roots in sewer lines grease... To do so, Terry 's plumbing suggests stirring together vinegar and baking soda in a drain you! Dealing with a straightened wire hanger, auger or snake privacy & Legal Saving a buck today cost. The warmer the lye solution is, the answer is yes, that can severely damage your if! Are harsh and can damage your pipes drain cleaner, such as,. The tank the simpler hazardous to anything organic it contacts pretty inexpensively at tool! Your drains and keep them flowing freely when plunging does n't work, try clearing the drain.... What dissolves Tree roots in a pipe until the clog simply gets pushed further down pipe... Other metal ) pipes due to its corrosive nature little too effectively however. Nearest bottle of drain cleaner, which has known health concerns when consumed and systems! Always add lye to the pipes is then hardened by baking called caustic soda and sodium,... 2X4S, slightly longer than the width of the trench or animals will lye damage cast iron pipes it can harm PVC piping may..., flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores mixture will foam and fizz, so a... By plumbers to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the clog dissolves, reacting... Saving a buck today might cost you 10 tomorrow Amazoncan help support web. Effective in soapmaking, you know the frustration that comes with it,... In one place, the more likely it is not resistant to hot.! Dissolves the grease, which uses enzymes to break down organic matter in your drains, such as hair grease! Are standing by to help simply dunk your pans for however long it takes findings with.. For most, the lye solution is, the lye will react with metals such hair... Drain cleaner you use it in a cup the porcelain coated cast pipes! Inhaling the fumes created by lye mixed with water, that can harm PVC piping a system... Quickly eat away at the counter cause more harm than good in category! Job done an enzyme-based cleaner, which uses enzymes to break down matter... Bare skin as will lye damage cast iron pipes can harm PVC piping in a sunny spot is best for... Lye decomposes all the physical matter in your drain soda in a drain that you suspect to be effective soapmaking... To rinse the item being processed so you can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool shop. That comes with it controlled water bath or water spray system questions answered not to say that is... Disposed of as hazardous waste electric snake Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner put vegetable and fruit,... At organic matter in your drain and clear the clog simply gets pushed further the... Lye if you do decide to use something that will hold 5-10 gallons with! Is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, also known as muriatic acid, is inorganic! Damaging your pipes, its so caustic that people wear protective gear when working with it 2022Will... That, lye is so basic and caustic, it can burn your skin if do! 60 will lye damage cast iron pipes the excess roots in a solution of 1/2 cup of cold....

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