Drain cleaner

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A drain cleaner is a chemical based consumer product that unblocks sewerpipes or helps to prevent the occurrence of clogged drains. The term may alsorefer to the individual who uses performs the activity with chemical draincleaners or devices known as plumber's snake. Drain cleaners can be classifiedin two categories: chemical, or device.

If a single sink, toilet, or tub or shower drain is clogged the first choice isnormally a drain cleaner that can remove soft obstructions such as hair andgrease clogs that can accumulate close to interior drain openings. Chemicaldrain cleaners, plungers, handheld drain augers, air burst drain cleaners,and home remedy drain cleaners are intended for this purpose.If more than one plumbing fixture is clogged the first choice is normally adrain cleaner that can remove soft or hard obstructions along the entirelength of the drain, from the drain opening through the main sewer drain tothe lateral piping outside the building. Electric drain cleaners and sewerjetters are intended for this purpose.

Each type of drain cleaner has advantages, disadvantages, and safetyconsiderations as described below.

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Solid Formulation of an alkalinedrain cleaner.

Bottles of alkaline drain cleanerscontaining sodium hydroxide candissolve greases and hair.

Contents [hide] 1 Chemical drain cleaners

1.1 Alkaline drain openers1.2 Acidic drain openers1.3 Usage considerations

2 Handheld drain augers3 Air burst drain cleaners4 Home remedy drain cleaners5 Hydro-mechanical drain cleaners6 Electric drain cleaners7 Sewer jetters8 Enzymatic drain cleaners9 Alternate terms10 References

Chemical drain cleaners [edit]Chemical drain cleaners can be in solid or liquid form that are readily availablethrough hardware stores, though some (primarily acidic ones) are intended foruse by licensed plumbers.[1]

Alkaline drain cleaners are available in either solid or liquid state while the acidicones are usually in liquid form.

Alkaline drain openers [edit]Alkaline drain openers primarily containsodium hydroxide and some may containpotassium hydroxide. They may appear inliquid or solid form.Liquid formulations of corrosive alkalinedrain cleaners can contain sodiumhypochlorite (bleach) and lye (sodiumhydroxide or potassium hydroxide) inconcentrations up to 50 percent. Othercorrosive mixtures come as two-partcleaners that are mixed as they are pouredin the drain opening. Inside the drain thetwo solutions react to release a gas, andsurfactants trap the gas as dense foam.The intent of this foaming action is to coatthe inside of the drain pipe to dislodge moreof the substances that form the clog.Solid formulations of corrosive alkalinedrain cleaners in the form of sodiumhydroxide or potassium hydroxide granules can provide more concentratedeffective ingredients. Some patented, solid-formula cleaners add aluminum

Acidic drain cleaners usuallycontain sulfuric acid (sulphuric acid) ata high concentration which turns apiece of pH paper red and chars itinstantly.

Apart from grease and hair, anacidic drain cleaner containing sulfuricacid can be also used to dissolve tissuepaper inside water pipes.

The acid in drain openers reacts

turnings that react with the solid hydroxide in water to heat the caustic mixtureto a boil.Alkaline drain openers can dissolve hair (containing proteins) and fats insidepipes via alkaline hydrolysis of amide and ester respectively:

RCONH2(amide or proteins)+ OH NH3 + RCOORCO2R(ester or fats)+ OH R'OH + RCOO

Acidic drain openers [edit]Acid drain cleaners usually containsulfuric acid (sulphuric acid) at highconcentrations.[2] It can dissolve proteinsand fats via hydrolysis and since sulfuricacid at high concentrations also has astrong dehydrating property, it readilydissolves tissue paper inside pipesthrough dehydration as well.According to a manufacturer, potentialhazards include violent reaction withwater and the production of explosivehydrogen vapors upon contact with mostmetals; chronic (delayed) and acute(immediate) health hazards if inhaled,ingested, or contacted, including severeeye, flesh and skin burns or evenpermanent visual loss, inflammation ofrespiratory membranes, and corrosiveburns to all human tissue. It may evenbe fatal if swallowed.[3] Due to thevigorous reaction between the acid andwater, such acidic drain openers shouldbe added slowly into the pipe to becleaned.Here are the ways where acidic drainopeners hydrolyze proteins and fats viaacid hydrolysis, similar to their alkalineversions mentioned above:RCONH2(amide or proteins)+ H2O + (H+or acid) NH4+ + RCOOHRCO2R'(ester or fats) + H2O + acid ordehydrating agent (e.g. conc. sulfuricacid) RCO2H + R'OHSulfuric acid at high concentrations indrain openers also dehydratessubstances containing carbohydrates,

with aluminium oxide on the surface ofsome pipes.

Handheld drain auger

like tissue paper which consists ofcellulose:

(C6H10O5)n + acid 6n C + 5n H2O

Usage considerations [edit]Advantages of chemical drain cleaners include ready availability of someformulations through retailer stores and potential ease of use for removing softhair and grease clogs that accumulate close the drain openings.Disadvantages of chemical drain cleaners include a lack of effectiveness forremoving clogs far from the drain opening (for example, clogs that occur intoilets[4] or in the main sewer drain), an inability to remove most solidobstructions, and the safety considerations outlined below.Danger arises from chemical drain cleaners' potential to injure eyes, lungs, andskin; and damage to clothing and household materials such as wood, paint,aluminum, and fiberglass. Chemical drain cleaners should be used onlyaccording to the manufacturer's instructions, as other use may cause injury.[5]Strongly corrosive and acid drain cleaners are among the most hazardoushousehold products available to the public. Chemical drain cleaners can causestrong reactionssometimes explosivelywith other chemicals that may havebeen used previously, which can result in serious injury to anyone in thevicinity.[6]

Handheld drain augers [edit]Further information: Plumber's snake

Handheld drain augers are typicallydesigned to clean portions of a drainwithin 8 metres (25 ft) of the drainopening. The cable of a handheld drainauger is driven into a drain by themechanical force created when theoperator rotates a drum that anchors thecable.Many handheld augers have cables thatare thin enough to pass throughcommon sink traps, though some manufacturers do not recommend usinghandheld drain augers in toilets because of their potential to scratch ceramicsurfaces. Instead, a special closet auger (from "water closet") should beused.[citation needed]

Similar to handheld augers, drain rods can be used for clearing blockages inlong, straight pipes.Advantages of handheld drain augers include low relative cost and readyavailability through hardware stores. However, drawbacks include a reach thatis normally limited to 8 metres (25 ft), and the potential for the twisting cable to

scratch the ceramic surfaces of plumbing fixtures. They are also only effectiveon small diameter pipes - 40-50mm rather than main sewer pipes of 110mm.Safety considerations include a requirement to wear protective gloves and eyeprotection, and to practice good hygiene after coming into contact with drainfluids.

Air burst drain cleaners [edit]Air burst drain cleaners use accelerated carbon dioxide, air or other gas torupture the clog membrane. Accelerated gas creates a force on standing waterthat can dislodge clogs that accumulate close to drain openings.Advantages of air burst drain cleaners include the potential to immediately clearclogs and slow-running drains, in contrast to chemical cleaners that can takemore time to work. Air burst cleaners can dislodge obstructions that are furtheraway from drain openings than can a plunger, and in contrast to a drain augersdo not risk scratching the ceramic surfaces of sinks, bathtubs and toilets.Disadvantages of air burst drain cleaners include a limited cleaning range inpipes that do not contain standing water and, in general, ineffectiveness forunclogging blocked main sewer drains.Safety considerations for air burst drain cleaners include a requirement to weareye protection and, when using an air burst cleaner that uses compressed gascartridges, careful handling of unused cartridges.

Home remedy drain cleaners [edit]Home remedy drain cleaners include boiling water poured into drain openingsto clear soap and hair clogs; or, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) poured intoa drain, followed by vinegar.[7]

Advantages of home remedy drain cleaners include ready availability andenvironmental safety, though they are limited in effectiveness compared toother drain cleaners.Safety considerations for home remedy drain cleaners include the requirementto handle ingredients (for example, boiling water) with the appropriate care.

Hydro-mechanical drain cleaners [edit]Hydro-mechanical drain cleans use high-pressure water to break upobstructions and flush these smaller particles down the drain.Most municipal building codes mandate that drain plumbing increase indiameter as it moves closer to the municipal sewer system. Ie, most kitchensinks evacuate water with a 1-1/2" drain pipe, which feeds into a larger 4" drainpipe on the main plumbing stack before heading to a septic tank or to the citysewage system. This means that, barring intrusion by tree roots or other debrisinto buried piping, the vast majority of household drain clogs occur in thesmallest diameter piping, usually in the pop-up or drain trap, where they can be

Electric drain cleaner

reached easily by a hydro-mechanical device's water hose.Advantages of hydro-mechanical drain cleaners are their eco-friendliness (mostuse only tap water), their ability to dislodge and remove clogs like sand or catlitter that 'back-fill when using a conventional snake, and their friendliness toplumbing joints. Unlike air-burst cleaners, hyrdo-mechanical drain cleaners donot pressurize plumbing joints. On some models of hydro-mechanical draincleaner both hot and cold water can be used, providing added cleaning powerfor fat, protein, or other easily melting drain clogs.Disadvantages of hydro-mechanical drain cleaners included limited reach intodrain plumbing, and the necessity of a water source to act as the motive agent.Safety considerations for hydro-mechanical drain cleaners include the risk ofinjury from hi-pressure water coming into contact with skin or delicate areas ofthe body (i.e., eyes, and face).

Electric drain cleaners [edit]Electric drain cleaners, also calledplumber's snakes, use the mechanicalforce of an electric motor to twist aflexible cable or spring in a clockwisedirection and drive it into a pipe. Electricdrain cleaners are commonly availablewith cable lengths of up to 40 metresand can go as far as 80 metres.Advantages of electric drain cleanersinclude the ability to clean long sectionsof sewer drain, the ability to remove solid objects such as tree roots and jewelry,and ready availability through hardware stores and tool rental counters.Machines using springs can easily negotiate multiple 90 degree bends whilemaintaining their effectiveness and without damaging the pipe.Disadvantages of electric drain cleaners include high relative cost and weight,and the considerable physical effort that may be required to control the cable.Safety considerations for electric drain cleaners include the requirement to wearwork gloves and eye protection, to carefully control the cable during operation toavoid overstressing it, to use appropriate caution when working around rotatingmachinery, and to use properly grounded electrical outlets.[8]

Sewer jetters [edit]A sewer jetter is composed of a controlled high-pressure water source such asa pressure washer or reciprocating displacement pump, a flexible high pressureline (called a Jetter Hose which connects the High Pressure Engine to the Mini-Reel) of up to hundreds of metres (several hundred feet) in length, the Mini-Reel (a hose reel which can be taken a distance from the engine) and a nozzlethat uses hydraulic force to pull the line into sewer drains, clean the sides of

Pressure Washer Sewer JetterAttachment, Nozzle End

Pressure washer sewer jetter nozzle

pipes, and flush out residue. HighPressure Sewer Jetters can be mountedon trolleys, inside vans or on trailers.The power of a Sewer Jetter rangesfrom 1000psi up to 5000psi. SewerJetter nozzles come in different sizesand applications, a bullet type nozzlewith a streamlined profile can clear ahole for the larger root cutting nozzle,root cutter nozzles are designed to cutroots with a spinning nozzle that shootsa jet stream horizontally inside the pipe. 5000psi Sewer Jetters with a rootcutting nozzles can clear a hole through the center of a root infested sewer lineand with its rear facing jet streams cut the roots and clean the pipe wallsflushing the root debris through the sewer line. The Sewer Jetter has beenlabeled as a technological advancement of the Plumber's snake (also known asan Electric Eel) drain clearing method.Portable sewer jetters and pressure washer sewer jetter attachments areprimarily used by service personnel and homeowners to remove softobstructions throughout the length of a building's sewer drain and to prevent therecurrence of clogs by cleaning the sides of drain pipes and flushing outresidue. Pressure washer sewer jetter attachments are generally lower in costand weight than electric drain cleaners with an equivalent reach, and canpresent a lower risk of scratching plumbing fixtures.[9]

Truck and trailer-mounted sewer jetters used by municipalities and largerservice companies benefit from the high hydraulic horsepower delivered bypowerful displacement pumps and so can remove tree roots and other solidobstructions.Advantages of sewer jetters include therelative ease of penetrating long sewerlines and the ability to remove residuethat accumulates along the sides ofsewer pipes, thereby reducing the needfor subsequent drain cleaning.Disadvantages of pressure washer sewer jetter attachments and many portablejetters include an inability to extract tree roots and other hard obstructions.Disadvantages of truck and trailer mounted sewer jetters include high relativecost and weight, and the requirement for extensive training to comply withmanufacturers' safety guidelines.Safety considerations for sewer jetters include a requirement to wear protectivegloves and eye protection, to avoid contact with sewer drain fluids, and toensure that the jetter nozzle operates only inside the sewer pipe.[10]Furthermore, larger truck and trailer-mounted units that operate with sufficientpower to cut tree roots require extensive training and strict adherence to

Enzymatic drain cleaner

manufacturers' safety guidelines to avoid serious injury.[11]

Enzymatic drain cleaners [edit]Enzymatic drain cleaners containbacteria cultures and concentratedenzymes that react with organic residuethat builds up on sewer pipes, dissolvingthe residue to help prevent slow-runningdrains. Most enzymatic drain cleanersare intended for general maintenance tomaintain proper flow and are notintended to clear fully clogged drainpipes.Advantages of enzymatic drain cleaners include relative safety for use in a widerange of plumbing fixtures, low environmental impact, low cost and ease of use.Disadvantages of most enzymatic drain cleaners include longer cleaning timescompared to most other drain cleaners. Because enzymatic cleaners rely onliquid flowing through the pipe to disperse, they are also generally not intendedto open completely clogged drains.Safety considerations for enzymatic drain cleaners include a requirement toavoid contact with eyes and prolonged contact with skin.

Alternate terms [edit]Liquid sosa is the well-known term for drain cleaner (in liquid form) in thePhilippines.

References [edit]1. ^ "Chemical Drain Cleaners: Should You Use Them to Unclog Drains?" .

Scotto Plumbing. Retrieved 5 July 2014.2. ^ "Sulphuric acid drain cleaner" (PDF). herchem.com.3. ^ Material Safety Data Sheet, "Liquid Fire" Drain Line Opener, September

20074. ^ www.drano.com , "The plumbing configuration of toilets is not conducive to

using drain clog removers..."5. ^ Drano Clog Remover Liquid Material Safety Data Sheet, 30 November 20096. ^ "My face melted when drain cleaner exploded" . 3 July 2010. Retrieved

4 April 2012.7. ^ Drain Cleaner and Opener Information , DoItYourself.com.8. ^ Ridgid K-7500 Drain Cleaning Machine Operator's Manual9. ^ www.sewerjetgazette.net , "How to Unclog a Sewer Drain with Your Pressure

Washer"10. ^ www.sewerjetgazette.net , "Sewer Jetter Safety"11. ^ [1] , "Sewer Worker Killed by Jet-Vac," Iowa FACE Program Submission, 23

March 2000

Categories: Plumbing

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MoreDrain cleanerInteractionToolsPrint/exportLanguagesContentsChemical drain cleaners[edit]Alkaline drain openers[edit]Acidic drain openers[edit]Usage considerations[edit]

Handheld drain augers[edit]Air burst drain cleaners[edit]Home remedy drain cleaners[edit]Hydro-mechanical drain cleaners[edit]Electric drain cleaners[edit]Sewer jetters[edit]Enzymatic drain cleaners[edit]Alternate terms[edit]References[edit]