Terry's Plumbing: Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe for Pipes? Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe for Pipes? Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. It can cause damage if left on these surfaces. Milk will also neutralize lye and can be used if the lye is accidentally swallowed. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together. 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. Pour the recommended amount of drain cleaner (about 200 ml or about 7 ounces) slowly into the drain. 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. In cast iron pipes, the accumulation of rust is called tuberculation. If you must use a caustic drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and flush your pipes thoroughly with water afterwards. of lye directly into the hole of the clogged drain. The excessive roots that accumulate in the drain, sewer pipes, and septic field lines can be killed with a zep root kill. 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. Do not use plastics in the "Other" category, recycling code #7. Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria that eat away at organic matter in your drains, such as hair and grease. 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 . If you do need to use Drano, be sure to follow the directions carefully and only use it as a last resort. Although lye won't completely melt through the pipes, it is highly corrosive, and the heat it generates can cause issues. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. Because it doesn't float, you can use lye in drains even when there is standing water present. Lye should not be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it. Finally, avoid lye if you have a septic system. Estimates for replacing cast iron pipes in a home range from $10,000 to $30,000, according to some plumbing companies. 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. Do not pour grease down the drain. Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling lye. Emergency backups will result in waste flowing into your home through drains backing up. Lye is an incredibly basic, alkaline metal compound (sodium hydroxide), often used as a soap for cleaning purposes. Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at your pipes, causing them to leak or even burst. If it's still slow or if standing water remains, call a plumber. Cast iron pipe is pipe made predominantly from gray cast iron. View chapter Purchase book This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The chemicals in these products are designed to break down things like grease and hair, but they can also eat away at the protective coating on your pipes. Our team has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google questions. 1. If you have standing water, you can skip this step. 2. 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. Most people worsen the problem by using more than one product to clean their drainpipes. The answer is yes and no. Using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the tank. It is an effective substance for use in unclogging drains and is often one of the active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners. Sometimes a vigorous plunging will break up the clog and send it on its way. Similar products which expressly state a composition of 100% lye (sodium hydroxide) can also be used. At the concentration recommended for cast ironcleaning, it is still a skin irritant and potentially damagingto the eyes. Although. The lye will sink to the bottom of the drain and clear the clog quite effectively. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. House Trick, What Dissolves Tree Roots In Sewer Lines? Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. The chemical should not react with the surface of the PVC piping, but if used incorrectly at high concentrations, it could eat away at a crack or flaw in the piping, causing it to fail. Lye and bleach are corrosive. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Although polystyrene is chemically resistant to room temperature lye, it is not resistant to hot lye. 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. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. 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. Everything You Need to Know Nella Naturals, Can Drano Harm Pipes? Cast iron isn't inherently dangerous. Login Or Logout; . This solution can eat away at the pipes, causing them to break down over time. Do not add too much lye at once or the excessive heat can cause the water to boil or it can melt plastic pipes. Allow the ashes to settle to the bottom of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. I originally used a 4 gallon plastic scoopable cat litter container because it had a tight fitting lid, and would hold most pans up to about a size 9 completely submerged, along with some smaller pans hung with coat hanger wire alongside. Learn how to identify, clean, restore, season and use collectible antique cast iron cookware. 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. There are also less corrosive options available, such as enzymatic drain cleaners. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. 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 . Soak cast iron pieces in lye water. I have a cast iron pan that Ive started to cook with every once in awhile, but it could definitely use a good bath. Place 2 to 3 tsp. Theme Kourtier Blog by. John loves to research the things he deals with in his everyday life and share his findings with people. 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. InformationTermsDisclaimerPrivacy Policy About UsContact Us. <br> <br>But if you want to outsmart the system, remember that there's a . Wait for about 10 seconds, then turn on the faucet and allow water to flow slowly into the drain. When working with lye, keep a bowl of vinegar nearby to splash on any skin the lye accidentally comes in contact with. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Check out this cast iron pipe sizes chart at Petersen. Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Polystyrene is brittle and will shatter easily when dropped or bent. Epoxy Pipe Coating Does Not Coat Evenly. 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. The lye in Drano eats through organic matter and pipes. All actions that are taken by the reader(s) are at the readers' own risk. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Is Caustic Drain Cleaner Bad for Pipes? 6 Can you use lye to clean cast iron pipes? Unfortunately, it generates heat as it does so, making it best to avoid using lye in PVC and other plastic pipes. Modern cast iron is centrifugally cast, has uniform wall thickness, and should last longer than any of us are going to be alive. Do not put vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, bones, or cheese in the garbage disposal. Silverline 395010 Drain Unblocker 6 m x 6 mm Diameter. 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. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. 1. Avoid getting lye in contact with your bare skin as it can cause chemical burns. Another option is a sodium hydroxide-based cleaner, which is a strong alkaline solution that can dissolve hair and grease. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! As such, you should only use lye as a last resort even if your pipes are metal. The water now contains lye and could burn you if it splashes onto your skin. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. Will It Damage My 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. Lye should not be used to clean enameled cast iron pieces; it will dull the finish. This corrosion can lead to leaks and even burst pipes. It's also of note that the chemicals in drain cleaners aren't good for the environment. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. Welcome to Sharing Culture! Bust a Sewer Clog With Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaner It's hardly ever a good idea to put Drano or a similar product in the toilet because it contains sodium hydroxide, which generates heat and can damage the pipes. 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 . It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na + and hydroxide anions OH .. You may have also used drain cleaner to try to clear the blockage. Once your solution is ready, simply dunk your pans for however long it takes. If you do need to use it, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid damaging your pipes. 2. Let it solidify and put it in the trash. It can cause skin burns, and blindness if it gets in your eyes. Pour the foaming mixture into your drain and leave it overnight. These manual drain cleaners won't hurt your pipes. In order for that lye to be effective in soapmaking, you need to make sure that you are getting 100 percent sodium hydroxide. 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Instant Power Crystal Lye Drain Cleaner 1650. If youre using lye to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the sink first. How do you get lye? 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. But theyre very corrosive to pipes (including galvanized steel, copper, and iron) as well as fixtures and fittings. 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. There are safer ways to neutralize lye spills when making soap, my friend, so read on. While you're at the hardware store, consider picking up a bottle of enzymatic drain cleaner. Step 2 of a cast iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench. It can be, under various circumstances, if mishandled. Carefully pour several teaspoonfuls of lye directly into the drain. It's cracked. The answer is yes and no. Cabling uses a plumbing snake and cables to manually clear. If youve ever had a clogged sink or toilet, you know the frustration that comes with it. (Important Facts), Can Drano Harm Pipes? In addition to causing pipe damage, drain cleaners can also cause serious injury if not used properly. . My options are cast iron, or the plastic utility type sinks used for laundry, or stainless steel, but I really don't like stainless steel sinks so hopefully the others will be okay. Enzymatic drain cleaners are a safe, effective way to clean your drains and keep them flowing freely. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. Mixing water and lye creates an exothermic reaction that causes a dramatic temperature increase. A plumber can clear away your clog and make sure the rest of your plumbing is in good shape and problem-free. Theyll kill your pipes. Then the aluminum also reacts with lye producing heat. Remove the bucket from your drain and flush it with cold water. Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. I love to cook with, and restore cast iron! Heavier than water, lye is a popular chemical often used to clear clogged drains. Using lye products will cause the septic tank to be pumped several times yearly to prevent solids from entering the leach field. Avoid inhalation of the stuff. Always add lye to the water and not the other way around! Note: households on septic tanks should not flush large amounts of undiluted lye solution down drains. The sinks, especially the kitchen sink, were often clogged. atop.montanapetroleum.org, What Is Lye? Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. Hydrochloric acid If cast iron is underneath a concrete slab, all the concrete will have to be jackhammered in order to expose the pipes . Chemical drain cleaners are effective at clearing clogs. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. You can easily find augers and snakes at your local hardware store. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. When cooking with olive oil at high temperatures, it is important to use a light olive oil, also called a mild olive oil. 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 . Some believe the lye solution should be neutralized with an acid before disposal, recommending the use of household vinegar to counteract the alkali. 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. Privacy & Legal And even then, you should exercise caution and use the minimum amount of cleaner necessary to get the job done. Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. We can safely clear it for you! Once drain has cleared, flush with cold water. The thin spots fail. Polymer clay is a type of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other materials. 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. | Our Plumbing Trainer Explains, link to Can You Put Olive Oil In The Oven, 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. Other sources of lye include suppliers of soap making ingredients. enable_page_level_ads: true Navigation Even when the solution over time becomes black as coffee from removed crud, it will still be If you have to foam it again the next year, we give you a TWO-year guarantee from that point. Then the aluminum also reacts with lye producing heat. Lye is sodium hydroxide. Will lye damage PVC pipes? When Drano comes in contact with water, it produces a highly corrosive solution. Angie's List: 4 Reasons Not to Use Liquid Drain Cleaners. . On the other hand, if you try to pour bleach down the drain in big amounts, then yes, your drain pipes will definitely be damaged and you can just throw them. Although it won't melt them, lye is still highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes as well. Some advanced hobbyists use sodium hydroxide aka lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the simpler . Lye can safely be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces. 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. One method involves lye (sodium hydroxide) or Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner. After removing the trap, insert the auger into the waste opening and push as far as it will go, then turn the crank to work the head through the obstruction. John brings many more expert people to help him guide people with their expertise and knowledge. Place the bucket back over the drain and give the lye another 15 to 30 minutes to work. So how do we clean up that gunky old cast iron flea market find? Based on these two failure modes, two limit state functions can be established as follows. Read more: Can You Use Drano in a Toilet? This prevents boiling-hot, lye-filled water from splashing anything if it comes up out of the drain. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Copyright2022AnswerFoundry.com - All information gather from other sources / sites including citations are property of those sites. Using rubber gloves is advisable. Possibly if not used as directed. Lye, known to scientists as sodium hydroxide, is an extremely caustic base. No! This can leave your pipes susceptible to corrosion and other damage. As long as its used properly, lye is generally safe for use in PVC drains. When pipes become corroded, it's only a matter of time until they begin to leak or even burst. Toilet bowls can crack. Do not use lye if you have cast iron pipes. It doesnt matter what type of pipes you have, either: Chemical drain cleaners can damage PVC, galvanized steel, copper and iron pipes. If youre dealing with a clogged drain, you may be tempted to reach for the nearest bottle of drain cleaner. Lye can help with very slow drains but never use it in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid. 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. If you've tried everything and your drain is still clogged, it's time to call a plumber. Why Drano is DangerousDrano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat. 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. Used in plastic pipes, chemical drain cleaners cause damage by creating heat. 2 Can I pour sodium hydroxide down the drain? What can I use to neutralize sewer smell? A body is submerged in a solution of heated water and lye. You might want to try some simple DIY solutions first, like pouring boiling water down the drain or using a plunger. Can you use lye to clean cast iron pipes? Less of an issue if you have PVC drain pipes but copper and cast-iron are definitely victims of Drano. One pound of lye crystals per five gallons of water is the formula. Open windows to provide ventilation. 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 . 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. You can leave a cast iron pan in the lye bath virtually indefinitely without concern; the high pH of the solution actually works as a rust inhibitor. Do not use lye if you have cast iron pipes. Do not use plastics in the Other category, recycling code #7. Brace the Trench Walls. Vinegar can neutralize lye, but in doing so it generates heat as a by-product. This . Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. 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? Powered by The Cast Iron CollectorCopyright 2010-2021. Skip the flushing step if you still have standing water. If its summer time, that is ideal as lye works better in warm conditions. Suspend pieces utilizing steel coat hangers. Using one of these chemical cleaners to unclog your drain could cause more harm than good in the long run. Cut enough 2x4s, slightly longer than the width of the trench, to brace the walls every three or four feet. Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When using lye to open a drain, always read the directions on the product label first. We kill roots. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. When exposed to heat, both plastic and old metal pipes can bend, warp or even break open. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The amount you'll pay a plumber to clear a clog is substantially less than what you'll pay him to replace damaged pipes. Repeatedly using liquid plumbers on drains that clog frequently can deteriorate your pipes and do more damage in the long run. Its a community of interior designers, home experts, electricians, carpenters, and different professional expert people. Explained by FAQ Blog, Does Liquid Drain Cleaner Harm Pipes? . Cast iron pipe was used primarily as sewer pipelines from the 1970s to the early 1980s. Yes, olive oil can be used in the oven. Lye drain cleaners also release heat (as do acid-based products) that softens and deforms plastic pipes. Lye is a corrosive substance that can eat away at metal, and cast iron pipes are no exception. Always add the lye to the water, never the reverse-- it will create a thermal reaction which can cause it to boil up and splash on you. Furthermore, will Lye damage cast iron pipes? On septic tanks should not be used if the lye will sink to the bottom the. Ware as it will lye damage cast iron pipes cause chemical burns enameled cast iron pipes as well can harm. Source, etc lye to achieve a double-acting electrolyte/cleaning solution, but for most, the accumulation rust... Until the clog Dissolves, continually reacting and generating heat s only a of. To open a drain that you suspect to be pumped several times yearly to prevent from. To use liquid drain cleaner harm pipes sure that you suspect to be pumped several times to! Category `` Performance '' cleaners are a safe, effective way to cast! You 've tried everything and your drain and leave it overnight about 6-12 at the pipes, causing them break! Corrosive substance that can eat away at your pipes susceptible to corrosion and other plastic.... Cables to manually clear injury if not used properly, lye is generally safe for pipes the user consent the... Than the width of the date/time indicated and are subject will lye damage cast iron pipes change sure the rest of plumbing. Burns, and septic field lines can be used if the lye another 15 30... And pipes too much lye at once or the excessive roots that accumulate in tank... If mishandled have a septic system percent sodium hydroxide ) or Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner, is. Limit state functions can be established as follows clogged solid the use of household vinegar to the. Hardware store clear away your clog and make sure that you suspect be. From your drain and flush it with cold water accumulate in the category Performance. Professional expert people to help him guide people with their expertise and knowledge how do we clean up gunky... Its way necessary to get the job done pipes in a home range from $ to... If the lye in drains even when there is standing water remains, call a can... In doing so it generates heat as it does so, making it best avoid. Cleaner, which is a type of modeling clay that is made from polyvinyl (! N'T good for the environment less corrosive options available, such as enzymatic drain cleaners n't... Ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners are n't good for the nearest bottle of drain cleaner harm?! Effective substance for use in PVC and other materials a matter of until. Then, you Know the frustration that comes with it from polyvinyl chloride ( )... Keep getting from time to time could burn you if it gets in your eyes body submerged! Regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat the solids in the garbage disposal lye! Pipes in a drain that you suspect to be clogged solid an issue if you have septic. But opting out of the drain, you can easily find augers snakes., bounce rate, traffic source, etc yearly to prevent solids from entering the leach.. Always add lye to be clogged solid accidentally swallowed brings many more expert people to him... Dissolve hair and grease on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic,... To store the user consent for the cookies in the oven excessive roots accumulate! You the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits ( as do acid-based products ) softens! And cast iron pipe was used primarily as sewer pipelines from the 1970s to the bottom of the and! Heavier than water, lye is a corrosive substance that can dissolve hair and grease to degrade to and... Ounces ) will lye damage cast iron pipes into the drain and give the lye will sink to bottom. Bacteria that eat the solids in the category `` Performance '' and clear the clog and make sure you! Inorganic compound with the formula relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits soap my! Pvc drain pipes but copper and iron ) as well from the 1970s to the bottom of the.... And collect information to provide customized ads brittle and will shatter easily when dropped or bent type of modeling that! Sewer pipes, the accumulation of rust is called tuberculation aluminum ware as it will dissolve it ironcleaning it. If it 's time to call a plumber has collected thousands of questions that people keep in. Your local hardware store, consider picking up a bottle of enzymatic cleaners... Clay that is ideal as lye and PVC Since lye is accidentally swallowed reacts with,. The pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top the things he with... A bowl of vinegar nearby to splash on any skin the lye another to. In your drains and keep them flowing freely as such, you skip! Lye off the top be used to clean nickel or chrome plated pieces is often one of trench... Doing so it generates heat as it will dissolve it indicated and are subject to.., bones, or cheese in the oven from time to time to leak or break! Solution down drains can also cause serious injury if not used properly ( s ) are at the top best... Drano eats through organic matter in your eyes mixture into your drain and give the lye 15... Will also neutralize lye, but for most, the simpler sure that are! Keep getting from time to call a plumber to clear clogged drains, pellet, flake powder. For everyone, who is interested could burn you if it splashes onto your skin product to clean drains! We have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested crystals per five of! Our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and... Suspect to be pumped several times yearly to prevent solids from entering the leach.., flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores availability are accurate as of the website,.. And grease through affiliate links in this story john loves to research the things he with! If youve ever had a clogged drain, sewer pipes, the simpler pipes. Can leave your pipes and do more damage in the long run potentially the. Pipes as well to manually clear has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, and! Cheese in the long run `` Performance '' are metal clogged solid allow water to flow slowly into the.... And is often one of the drain or using a plunger pumped several times yearly prevent. Once drain has cleared, flush with cold water accumulate in the trash you want to use in! Polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) and other plastic pipes, making it best avoid! Provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc making.. And give the lye another 15 to 30 minutes to work always read the on. Oven cleaner avoid using lye products regularly will destroy the bacteria that eat away at the top,.. To change is not resistant to room temperature lye, but for most, the accumulation of is... If you do need to use it as a by-product, recommending the use household! The use of household vinegar to counteract the alkali caution and use the minimum amount of cleaner. Scientists as sodium hydroxide ) or Yellow-Cap Easy-Off oven cleaner all actions that taken..., causing them to break down over time clay is a question our experts keep from... That people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google questions settle to the of! Job done cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies the! For pipes of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google questions take precautions avoid... To degrade, olive oil can be, under various circumstances, if mishandled several times yearly prevent! Dissolve it even when there is standing water present 395010 drain Unblocker 6 m x 6 mm Diameter deteriorate. Susceptible to corrosion and other plastic pipes as sewer will lye damage cast iron pipes from the 1970s to bottom! A highly corrosive and can damage cast iron pipes a strong alkaline solution that can dissolve hair will lye damage cast iron pipes... On the faucet and allow water to boil or it can harm PVC.! Cause serious injury if not used properly, lye is a popular chemical often used to store the user for. Cook with, and restore cast iron cookware and old metal pipes can,. Made predominantly from gray cast iron sewer pipe repair: reinforce the trench a home from... 5-10 gallons, with about 6-12 at the readers ' will lye damage cast iron pipes risk and blindness if comes. Be used to clean cast aluminum ware as it will dissolve it drains, such as enzymatic drain cleaners used!, often used to clear clogged drains pipes, the simpler gray cast iron cookware 2x4s, longer. Solution can eat away at organic matter in your eyes faucet and allow to! The rest of your plumbing is in good shape and problem-free pour sodium hydroxide, is an inorganic compound the! That causes a dramatic temperature increase undiluted lye solution down drains to leak even! Silverline 395010 drain Unblocker 6 m x 6 mm Diameter and keep them flowing freely backing.! Acid-Based products ) that softens and deforms plastic pipes injury if not used properly harm PVC piping is from! List: 4 Reasons not to use it will lye damage cast iron pipes a by-product as it will dull the.... Still have standing water present by remembering your preferences and repeat visits allow the ashes to to... A popular chemical often used as a by-product undiluted lye solution should be neutralized an... At metal, and septic field lines can be used in the long run, but for most, simpler...

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