pipe cleaner
A pipe cleaner is a device and chemicals used to clear clogs in drain pipes. Hence the name drain cleaner . The devices include, for example, the pipe cleaning spiral . The use of chemicals only makes sense in the event of blockages caused by organic material. This can be cold fats and leftovers in the kitchen drain or skin oil stuck to hair in the shower. Some chemical pipe cleaners also work to a small extent against the water-insoluble lime soap , which is formed by the use of soap in water with a high proportion of lime and causes deposits in drainage pipes.
Granules and liquid agents are commercially available which usually contain highly caustic, alkaline ingredients in order to saponify fats and to hydrolyze polymeric or proteinaceous organic substances, i.e. to dissolve them in water and thus to remove the blockage. If used incorrectly, alkaline agents can become very hot due to the chemical reactions that take place.
There are also enzymatic- based pipe cleaners available that are relatively risk-free for the user and do not endanger the sanitary installations.
Inorganic drain cleaners
Inorganic drain cleaners always contain caustic soda ( sodium hydroxide , NaOH) or caustic potash ( potassium hydroxide , KOH), which form highly corrosive alkalis - sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide - when combined with water . It can also contain chlorine compounds ( sodium hypochlorite ) and oxidants .
Potassium hydroxide attacks acrylic glass as well as enamelled and glazed surfaces of tubs and sanitary ware , which are made of silicate glass-like material ( glass corrosion ). It should only be introduced specifically into the drain. If the drain pipes are still made of ceramic material, they must be flushed well.
Granules
In addition to the alkaline substances, caustic potash and caustic soda, granulates also contain aluminum granules and, under certain circumstances, nitrate and sodium carbonate .
The aluminum is oxidized by the lye, generating heat and forming hydrogen, among other things . The blockage should be loosened by warming up and developing gas. Since the gaseous hydrogen mixed with atmospheric oxygen leads to highly explosive oxyhydrogen gas , attempts are made to bind the hydrogen to ammonia by reducing nitrate . This can cause an acrid smell. It is therefore important to ensure good ventilation.
If overdosed, the heat generated can damage plastic drainage pipes. The pipe cleaner can clump and seal the pipe itself.
Liquid funds
Liquid pipe cleaners usually consist of strongly alkaline liquid substances that also contain sodium hypochlorite and surfactants . Since no gas development occurs during application, surfactants and chlorinated water should help to dissolve fatty components and proteins. This may require a longer exposure time than granules.
Detergents containing sodium hypochlorite or other substances containing chlorine must not be used together with acid or acidic cleaning agents such as limescale removers or toilet cleaners. Otherwise, poisonous chlorine gas can form.
Biological drain cleaners
As a non-caustic and gentler alternative to commercially available alkaline drain cleaners, so-called biological cleaners are available that contain enzymes that are able to hydrolytically break down fats and proteins (e.g. hair) . These agents are less aggressive, but require a long exposure time of several hours to a few days.
A certain breakdown of biological material by microorganisms also naturally takes place in drainpipes. Nutrients are converted by putrefactive bacteria , structures of plants (fruit and vegetables, wood, clippings) slowly dissolve.
scope of application
A typical use case for chemical drain cleaners is clogged drains from sinks, showers and bathtubs. There, the cleaner can often easily be rinsed into clumped hair in order to dissolve it. Other proteins and fats are also dissolved. The grease deposits form water-soluble soap with the caustic soda contained in pipe cleaners. However, it is difficult to dissolve layers of fat that are compactly deposited on the pipe wall, since the agent has to act over a longer period of time in order to be able to dissolve the lower layers as well. In the case of a drain that is completely blocked by grease, a certain flow rate must first be created by mechanical cleaning so that the agent can get to the site of the blockage with the rinsing water. Very fatty wastewater from commercial operations must be pre-cleaned by a grease separator .
Many manufacturers exclude the use of drain cleaner in the toilet. Various reasons speak against using it in the toilet:
- Due to the large pipe cross-section, sewage pipes carrying faeces can usually only be clogged by larger objects that have been flushed down the toilet bowl and that get stuck in the pipeline when a change of direction or a step occurs. However, such solids cannot generally be dissolved by the drain cleaner. An accumulation of material can also be caused by cracks in the pipe wall, objects protruding into it such as screwed-in screws or ingrown roots. Even such amounts of material can only be loosened superficially by the drain cleaner, but not completely removed. The only remedy is usually mechanical cleaning and removal of the cause of the blockage.
- In particular, basic pipe cleaners should be mixed with sodium and potassium hydroxide containing non-acidic lime or toilet cleaners.
- If solid pipe cleaner granulate is added to the toilet, it sinks to the bottom of the toilet bowl. There is stagnant water in the toilet drain as an odor trap . From the first low point (which is visible when the toilet lid is open), the water in the toilet bowl is first brought up again. If the water drains slowly due to the blockage, the granules are not carried by the rinse water through the low point of the odor trap and you must first wait until the agent has completely dissolved before it can be rinsed to the blocked area in an effective concentration. This reduces the effectiveness, as the substances contained in the granulate react with each other under water and form bubbles that are intended to loosen the accumulations of material. This reaction has already taken place in the visible area of the toilet bowl, where a blockage would also have to be cleared manually.
- If, due to the hardness of the water in the toilet or on the pipe walls, hard, calcareous deposits such as urine scale have formed after many years , these carbonates can be dissolved by the action of acids such as hydrochloric acid or, if the deposits are lower, also with acetic acid or citric acid . Alkaline pipe cleaners cannot dissolve limescale and must never be used together with acidic acid-based cleaners.
Performing the cleaning
Drains from showers, bathtubs and sinks are often clogged with hair that gets caught in them, which, like a filter, can trap other solids and clump them with grease. Such accumulations are dissolved by alkaline pipe cleaning agents, if they can be flushed with the draining water to the place of the blockage.
The product is used most effectively when the water builds up a bit and only drains off very slowly. If the water drains off quickly, the pipe cleaning agent will flow past the clogged area too quickly to be able to loosen hair. On the other hand, if a large amount of water is already building up in the pipe system, the agent may be diluted too much. If the water does not flow off at all, the agent may not be flushed to the point of clogging or it may only work on the surface.
If the granules are poured directly into the drain of the basin, they will get stuck in the odor trap , which is located immediately below. The agent loses part of its effectiveness and can also attack the material of the odor trap:
- Metal odor traps are slowly decomposed by alkaline pipe cleaners. After a few years, material leaks can form.
- Plastic odor traps are usually hardly attacked chemically. If there is more than a tablespoon of granules in the odor trap and the heat of the exothermic reaction is not dissipated by the water flowing by, the agent can heat up strongly and melt the plastic. In bathtubs, shower trays and urinals, the odor traps are usually difficult to access, so that repairs are time-consuming.
As far as the odor trap is accessible, it should first be removed in order to bring the granulate directly into the sewer. To make the process easier, the granules can first be poured into a bottle with a little water and then rinsed down the drain pipe together with the water. Often the blockage is located in the siphon itself and can easily be removed manually after removing the odor trap.
Some pipe cleaner manufacturers recommend pouring a certain amount of the detergent next to the drain first and then flushing it down the drain with water. This makes it easier to estimate the amount used. Above all, however, the amount of water required for flushing should prevent the hardly diluted granulate from remaining in the odor trap and heating up strongly there.
Other manufacturers fear that the granulate will attack the material of shower trays and bathtubs if it is first placed in the tub. This danger exists predominantly with tubs made of plastic.
If the odor trap cannot be removed before use, it is advisable to first pour the agent into a drinking glass with some water and then pour it down the drain together with the water. In order to use the outgassing of the granulate to loosen the blockage, you should not wait until the agent has dissolved in the water. To prevent the granules from settling on the bottom of the glass, they can be kept in suspension by moving the glass in a circular motion. Unless protective gloves are worn, hands should be rinsed thoroughly with water on contact with the solution. Splashes of the agent should be washed off.
If the blockage cannot be completely resolved either with the suction cup or the spiral, you should first wait until the drain has emptied. Then the pipe cleaner can be poured down the drain. Then just enough water should be added that it washes the cleaner up to the blocked point. If blockages occur more frequently, a small amount of diluted pipe cleaner can occasionally be added to the pipeline in the evening to allow it to work overnight. In the longer term, it should be checked whether the sewer line was laid in accordance with the rules of DIN 1986-100 and whether it is possible to lay the drainage pipe concerned again.
If the blockage occurs deeper in the pipe system and repeatedly in the same place, it can be assumed that material is collecting on an obstacle, such as the broken edge of a defective pipe or a screw screwed into the pipe. A hydraulically unfavorable laying of the pipes (disregarding the guidelines) can also be the cause.
Mechanical cleaning methods
The most effective means of preventing more stubborn blockages is the regular use of a suction cup ("pümpel" or "pömpel"). This should already be done when a reduction in the processing speed is noticeable. This loosens the web of hair, which is often responsible for later complete blockage. However, the application requires some practice and strength. In order to be able to generate a sufficient negative pressure, it is helpful to close the overflow of the sink or bathtub. If there is no suction bell, a plastic bottle or other flexible container can be used to alternately press water through the drain and suck it back from it. The air gap between the opening of the bottle and the drain can be sealed with a wet cloth or the like.
Alternatively, a hose can be inserted into the pipe in order to loosen light blockages with the help of the (warm) water jet and, if necessary, repeated poking with the end of the hose.
If the blockage has already occurred, an attempt can be made to reach and dissolve it with a pipe cleaning spiral.
High pressure air devices should be used with care, as the high pressure can force pipe connections apart. Plastic waste water pipes are usually only plugged into one another. The user may be held responsible for water damage caused by leaking pipe connections.
Precautions
Corrosive drain cleaners are dangerous household chemical products. Most pipe cleaners are marked with appropriate hazard symbols. When handling strong alkalis such as caustic soda , serious burns can occur if they come into contact with the skin or eyes . Therefore, appropriate protective equipment such as waterproof protective gloves or chemical protective gloves in combination with protective goggles should be worn during use.
In the event of ingestion, vomiting should be avoided. The lye should be diluted by taking plenty of water.
Furthermore, with many products, due to the development of gas, sufficient ventilation must be ensured during use.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Prof. Blum's tip of the month August 2004 (tip no. 86): Drain cleaners are dangerous , In: Chemieunterricht.de
- ↑ Answers to Frequently Asked Questions , Drano Pipe Cleaner; In: Trnd.com; accessed in June 2019.
- ↑ Water Damage : Advice for Home Owners .