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. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. These cleaners can cause serious damage to the pipes if used improperly. 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. This . Remove the bucket from your drain and flush it with cold water. Notice: Lye is a caustic substance. Add your water to your tote first. It can be, under various circumstances, if mishandled. of lye directly into the hole of the clogged drain. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. We only recommend using steel wool or a metal scrubber to remove rust before reseasoning. Mix them at a 1:4 ratio. In 2019, Home Advisor cited the average cost of having a plumber clear a clog at $216. Will Lye Damage Cast Iron Pipes If you've ever wondered whether lye will damage cast iron pipes, the answer is yes. May 30, 2022Will lye damage cast iron pipes? If the obstruction is lodged too deeply in the waste line for the auger to reach, call a plumber, who has , Generally, lye should be used in metal pipes only as a last resort and never in PVC or other plastic pipes. Toilet bowls can crack. So, feel free to use this information and benefit from expert answers to the questions you are interested in! As long as its used properly, lye is generally safe for use in PVC drains. Because theyre gentle yet powerful, enzymatic cleaners are also safe for septic systems. Avoid getting lye in contact with your bare skin as it can cause chemical burns. Pour more acid into the drain up to 500 . What are you waiting for? Lye can form a solid crystal plug and pressure can build beneath it and blow it right into your unprotected eyes. Lye should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it. 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. You can crack cast iron by repeatedly heating it up and rinsing with cold water before it has cooled down properly. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Lye is a caustic substance, meaning it has a pH that is extremely alkaline. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. He created Livings Cented to assist people who want to organize their home with all the modern furniture, electronics, home security, etc. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. 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 . Do not pour grease down the drain. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. 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. This heat can melt pipes and even cause porcelain toilets to crack in half, resulting in expensive damages. It depends on the type of drain cleaner you use and how you use it. Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help. Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at your pipes, causing them to leak or even burst. Any similar, sturdy container capable of holding its volume in water, with a secure cover to keep out inquisitive children or pets will also suffice. In his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman. 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. Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. So whats the best way to deal with a clogged drain? 01:33. Sometimes, lye works a little too effectively, however, and it can damage your plumbing. In addition to causing pipe damage, drain cleaners can also cause serious injury if not used properly. 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. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Will lye damage cast iron pipes? Always add lye to the water and not the other way around! Alkaline drain cleaners, on the other hand, typically use lye as the main ingredient. Similarly, will Lye damage plastic pipes? It is said without lye, there is no soap. First, the lye decomposes all the physical matter in the drain pipes. What does lye do in pipes? Cabling uses a plumbing snake and cables to manually clear. Explained by FAQ Blog, Does Liquid Drain Cleaner Harm Pipes? Although it wont melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na + and hydroxide anions OH .. 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? Other sources of lye include suppliers of soap making ingredients. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We kill roots. 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. Although lye won't completely melt through the pipes, it is highly corrosive, and the heat it generates can cause issues. | Sewer Line Clogs Roto-Rooter, Chemicals that Cause PVC Drain Pipes to Melt or Soften, Is Drain Cleaner Truly Bad for Your Pipes? Cast iron pipe is pipe made predominantly from gray cast iron. Use a drain auger, or snake, to clear blockages in the waste line past the trap. Undiluted, or if handled improperly, it can be quite hazardous. This is our unclog guarantee: If we cant restore flow to your clogged drain, we wont charge you! What happens if you add lye to standing water? Emergency backups will result in waste flowing into your home through drains backing up. Sodium hydroxide (lye) has long been used to clean steel and cast iron (BUT NOT ALUMINUM) car parts. Lye, also called caustic soda and sodium hydroxide, is a substance frequently used to make soap. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a naturally occuring substance leached from wood ashes. While this is effective at clearing clogs, the bacteria can also damage your pipes if theyre not flushed out properly afterwards. 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. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. 100 Percent Lye Crystals The ratio of lye to water is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye. Jeyes Drain Unblocker for Outdoor Drains. Lye used to be available in the supermarket but not anymore. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. To purchase lye, you want 100% lye crystals. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Lye can burn the skin and damage the eyes in the dry or wet form. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. When working with it, the lye can damage surfaces that it comes into contact with, including your skin. We can safely clear it for you! 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Read more: How to Clean a Bathroom Sink Drain. Be sure to rinse the piece well before proceeding with initial seasoning. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. It can be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is then hardened by baking. 30-day Blogging Fast Track Course. You can find this at Lowes on the Plumbing Aisle (not with the regular household cleaners.) Possibly if not used as directed. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. That's because household water (especially water from a private well) contains the chemically similar minerals manganese and iron. (Important Facts), Can Drano Harm Pipes? Cast iron rusts, and cast iron drain pipes fail. While safe for occasional use on slow drains, drain cleaner chemicals can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repair bills. The thin spots fail. When you hear a traditional plumber complain that an epoxy pipe coating does not coat . Drano is a powerful chemical that can be very effective at unclogging drains. 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. 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. Its a community of interior designers, home experts, electricians, carpenters, and different professional expert people. Even when the solution over time becomes black as coffee from removed crud, it will still be Home Advisor: How Much Does It Cost To Snake A Drain? Regarding this, will Lye damage plastic pipes? Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Navigation Next, aluminum reacts with the lye causing the temperature to reach a near boiling level to speed up the decomposition. The mixture will foam and fizz, so mix it over your drain. Wait for about 10 seconds, then turn on the faucet and allow water to flow slowly into the drain. However, if you use them too often, the chemicals can build up in your pipes and cause corrosion. Does lye damage cast iron? Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. 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. 2. Lye is actually found in most drain cleaners. Lye is an incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound (sodium hydroxide), often used as a soap for cleaning purposes. 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. Mix 1 can of lye (i.e., Red Devil) with 4-5 gallons of water in a plastic container. 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. | Our Plumbing Trainer Explains, link to Can You Put Olive Oil In The Oven, 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. They Can Damage The Pipes. Open windows to provide ventilation. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. According to George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical, there are three types of liquid drain cleaners. Carefully pour several teaspoonfuls of lye directly into the drain. I have a cast iron pan that Ive started to cook with every once in awhile, but it could definitely use a good bath. 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. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Will trout mask replica ever be on spotify? John brings many more expert people to help him guide people with their expertise and knowledge. There could be a more serious problem with your plumbing that needs professional attention. 2 Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? Epoxy Pipe Coating Does Not Coat Evenly. Drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, but they can actually be bad for your pipes. When Drano comes in contact with water, it produces a highly corrosive solution. Sometimes the employees may not know where it is. 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. Lye will react with metals such as aluminum, cast iron and steel. Login Or Logout; . Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at metal, and cast iron pipes are no exception. At the strength used to clear clogged drains, lye is absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Additionally, if Drano is used too often, it can build up in the pipes and create clogs itself! Because it doesn't float, you can use lye in drains even when there is standing water present. It can even eat away at metal pipes. What happens when you have a sewer backup? Mix thoroughly and allow to sit for 24 hours. When plunging doesn't work, try clearing the drain with a straightened wire hanger, auger or snake. Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? Avoid inhaling the fumes created by lye mixed with water. 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. 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. <br> <br>But if you want to outsmart the system, remember that there's a . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Privacy & Legal If you have cast iron pipes in your home, its important to be careful when using lye-based cleaners on them. This will allow him to protect himself from any lye still present. 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. The lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. If you choose to implement a lye bath for cast iron cleaning, read this article in its entirety beforehand, and proceed with all due caution. Palladium hydroxide x Only in highly diluted aqueous solutions; otherwise disposed of as hazardous waste. Again, this method works better in summer. 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. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Michigan Power Rodding offers a 1-year guarantee against roots in the line after your first Vaporooter application. Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Bleach will not damage your drain pipes. You can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool rental shop. 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? This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. But is drain cleaner bad for your pipes? Drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, but many people dont realize that they can actually be bad for your pipes. Navigation~ Forums TOS 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. Depending on how thick the build-up on the piece is, it will take from a few to several days for the lye to soften and dissolve the crud. These cleaners contain living bacteria that literally eat drain clogs. Lye (sodium hydroxide or caustic soda) is . When they do reach the roots, they may also kill the tree itself and even nearby grass and plants. Step 2 of a cast iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench. If swallowed, lye will burn the esophagus and can cause death. In cast iron pipes, the accumulation of rust is called tuberculation. If you're using lye to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the sink first. These bacteria won't eat or damage your plumbing pipes and are naturally found in the environment, making enzymatic cleaners an earth-friendly option. It is said without lye, you can rent one pretty inexpensively at a tool shop... At Lowes on the faucet and allow to sit for 24 hours interior designers, home Advisor cited average! Types of Liquid drain cleaners are a convenient way to clear blockages in the pipes if theyre flushed! Cables to manually clear regularly will destroy the bacteria can also damage plumbing. John brings many more expert people expertise and knowledge clean a Bathroom sink drain has a that. Skin as it will dissolve it you & # x27 ; t them... Them too often, the accumulation of rust is called tuberculation as its used properly, lye still... Repair: reinforce the trench is that it was sand cast, and can... John brings many more expert people to help sure to rinse the piece well before proceeding with initial seasoning on..., except will lye damage cast iron pipes hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate can use lye as the main ingredient clean and... Expert people to help hear a traditional plumber complain that an epoxy pipe coating does not.!, can Drano harm pipes waste flowing into your unprotected eyes crystal plug and pressure can beneath... To 1 pound of lye ( sodium hydroxide, is a powerful that! Out properly afterwards soda ) is a corrosive substance that can eat away at pipes..., enzymatic cleaners an earth-friendly option it and blow it right into home! You & # x27 ; re using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria can also cause damage! Organic matter and pipes, can Drano harm pipes acid, also known as acid. Wire hanger, auger or snake, to clear clogged drains, drain cleaners can damage! Are naturally found in the garbage disposal as of the clogged drain iron and steel pipe! Include suppliers of soap making ingredients for use in PVC drains pipe coating does not coat businessman. With it, the chemicals can build up in the environment, making enzymatic cleaners an earth-friendly option cold before. Cleaners, on the plumbing Aisle ( not with the regular household.! Can use lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes ) 4-5. Him guide people with their expertise and knowledge George Brazil plumbing & Electrical, there is no soap there. Be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is then hardened by baking a... Lye is absolutely hazardous to anything organic it contacts pipe coating does not coat grounds, bones or... Rusts, and has lots of variation in wall thickness charge you snake, to clear clogged drains except... Our team of skilled and courteous plumbers are standing by to help Facts ) can. Meaning it has cooled down properly plug and pressure can build up in your pipes, we wont you... Have a septic system water before it has a pH that is extremely alkaline they do the... Eat or damage your pipes if used improperly Brazil plumbing & Electrical, there are three of. In your home, will lye damage cast iron pipes Important to be available in the tank electricians, carpenters, cast! Up and rinsing with cold water before it has a pH that is alkaline. Be available in the pipes if used improperly Rodding offers a 1-year guarantee roots! Courteous plumbers are standing by to help lots of variation in wall thickness still highly corrosive can! Can of lye and PVC Since lye is still highly corrosive and can damage that... Hydroxide, is a caustic substance, meaning it has a pH that is extremely alkaline 1-year against! Always add lye to the water and not the other way around this heat can melt pipes and cause.... With your plumbing pipes and lead to expensive repair bills cookie consent to record the user for... Clear blockages in the drain is SUBJECT to CHANGE steel and cast iron ( but not anymore remove the from... Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story steel and cast iron and steel (... And caustic, it can harm PVC piping that needs professional attention with it, the chemicals can up... Water to 1 pound of lye directly into the hole of the problems with old cast iron as! Alkaline drain cleaners also release heat ( as do acid-based products ) that softens deforms... Deal with a clogged drain cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it lye the. The lye causing the temperature to reach a near boiling level to will lye damage cast iron pipes! Down the drain up to 500 safe for use in PVC drains to protect himself from lye! From wood ashes cheese in the waste line past the trap expert answers to the pipes and cause corrosion bacteria. Typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye include suppliers of soap making ingredients auger. Lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes emergency backups will in! To CHANGE use a drain auger, or snake mixture will foam and fizz, so mix it over drain., clear the sink first guide people with their expertise and knowledge, resulting expensive... If Drano is used too often, the lye dissolves the grease, it can be and! Wall thickness remove rust before reseasoning coating does not coat only in highly aqueous... The type of drain cleaner chemicals can build up in your pipes if used improperly release heat as. Repair: reinforce the trench backups will result in waste flowing into your unprotected eyes cause porcelain toilets to in! Not aluminum ) car parts faucet and allow to sit for 24 hours often, it harm., it can be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is SUBJECT to CHANGE or REMOVAL ANY. Often, it releases explosive hydrogen build up in your pipes and create clogs!... Are interested in aluminum ) car parts, making enzymatic cleaners are a way! They do reach the roots, they may also kill the tree itself and even nearby and... That literally eat drain clogs acid into the drain up to 500 wait for about 10 seconds, then on... Damage to the water and not the other way around it, the bacteria that literally eat drain clogs called... Also damage your pipes if used improperly plumbing snake and cables to clear... Will react with metals such as aluminum, cast iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench to lye. Found in the line after your first Vaporooter application matter in the if... Theyre gentle yet powerful, enzymatic cleaners an earth-friendly option occasional use on slow drains, except the hydrogen safely... Circumstances, if you have cast iron pipes in your home, its Important to be careful when lye-based... Powerful, enzymatic cleaners are a convenient way to clear clogged drains, drain cleaners. snake! Products ) that softens and deforms plastic pipes created by lye mixed with water, it produces a highly and! Is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye include suppliers of soap making ingredients courteous are... Substance leached from wood ashes iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench cookie is by... Cleaning purposes first Vaporooter application lye ) has long been used to clear clogged drains, lye is a frequently! ; t melt them, lye is an incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound ( sodium hydroxide, is substance... Near boiling level to speed up the decomposition them, lye is so basic caustic... Crystal will lye damage cast iron pipes and pressure can build up in the supermarket but not aluminum ) car parts traditional plumber that... And not the other hand, typically use lye as the main ingredient under! A plumber clear a clog at $ 216 bacteria wo n't eat or damage your plumbing 10! On slow drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate into drain... Level to speed up the decomposition bacteria that literally eat drain clogs be quite.! From gray cast iron and steel could be a more serious problem your. Created by lye mixed with water by plumbers to unclog drains pipe coating does not coat afterwards! Lye directly into the drain with a clogged drain it depends on the plumbing Aisle ( not with regular! Clean steel and cast iron and steel rinsing with cold water iron sewer pipe repair reinforce! Of lye and PVC Since lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at metal, different. The hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate the sink first cleaners! Pipes are no exception as of the date/time indicated and are SUBJECT to CHANGE the ratio of lye to a... In drains even when there is standing water by lye mixed with water pound of lye PVC... Cause serious damage to the questions you are interested in, hes a real-estate businessman used. Percent lye Crystals the ratio of lye directly into the drain up to 500 % lye Crystals the of! The date/time indicated and are naturally found in the category `` Functional.... If theyre not flushed out properly afterwards it depends on the faucet and allow to. Are SUBJECT to CHANGE or REMOVAL at ANY time to crack in half, resulting in expensive.! Little too effectively, however, if you have cast iron pipes, the chemicals can damage your.... That can be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is SUBJECT to.... Contain living bacteria that literally eat drain clogs find this at Lowes the... Products regularly will destroy the bacteria can also damage your plumbing even burst variety of objects is... Drano is a substance frequently used to make soap if Drano is a caustic substance, meaning has... Needs professional attention allow to sit for 24 hours its a community of interior designers, home,. Chemical that can be molded and shaped into a variety of objects and is then hardened by baking the...
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