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Drain cleaner
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material may be challenged and removed. (July

2014)

A drain cleaner is a chemical based consumer product that unblocks sewer

pipes or helps to prevent the occurrence of clogged drains. The term may also
refer to the individual who uses performs the activity with chemical drain
cleaners or devices known as plumber's snake. Drain cleaners can be classified
in two categories: chemical, or device.
If a single sink, toilet, or tub or shower drain is clogged the first choice is
normally a drain cleaner that can remove soft obstructions such as hair and
grease clogs that can accumulate close to interior drain openings. Chemical
drain 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 a
drain cleaner that can remove soft or hard obstructions along the entire
length of the drain, from the drain opening through the main sewer drain to
the lateral piping outside the building. Electric drain cleaners and sewer
jetters are intended for this purpose.

Dansk
Deutsch

Each type of drain cleaner has advantages, disadvantages, and safety

Franais

considerations as described below.

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Svenska

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Contents [hide]
1 Chemical drain cleaners
1.1 Alkaline drain openers
1.2 Acidic drain openers
1.3 Usage considerations
2 Handheld drain augers
3 Air burst drain cleaners
4 Home remedy drain cleaners
5 Hydro-mechanical drain cleaners
6 Electric drain cleaners
7 Sewer jetters
8 Enzymatic drain cleaners
9 Alternate terms
10 References

Chemical drain cleaners

[edit]

Chemical drain cleaners can be in solid or liquid form that are readily available
through hardware stores, though some (primarily acidic ones) are intended for
use by licensed plumbers.[1]
Alkaline drain cleaners are available in either solid or liquid state while the acidic
ones are usually in liquid form.

Alkaline drain openers [edit]

Alkaline drain openers primarily contain
sodium hydroxide and some may contain
potassium hydroxide. They may appear in
liquid or solid form.
Liquid formulations of corrosive alkaline
drain cleaners can contain sodium
hypochlorite (bleach) and lye (sodium

Solid Formulation of an alkaline

drain cleaner.

hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) in

concentrations up to 50 percent. Other
corrosive mixtures come as two-part
cleaners that are mixed as they are poured
in the drain opening. Inside the drain the
two solutions react to release a gas, and
surfactants trap the gas as dense foam.
The intent of this foaming action is to coat
the inside of the drain pipe to dislodge more
of the substances that form the clog.
Solid formulations of corrosive alkaline

Bottles of alkaline drain cleaners

containing sodium hydroxide can
dissolve greases and hair.

drain cleaners in the form of sodium

hydroxide or potassium hydroxide granules can provide more concentrated
effective ingredients. Some patented, solid-formula cleaners add aluminum

turnings that react with the solid hydroxide in water to heat the caustic mixture
to a boil.
Alkaline drain openers can dissolve hair (containing proteins) and fats inside
pipes via alkaline hydrolysis of amide and ester respectively:
RCONH2(amide or proteins)+ OH NH3 + RCOO
RCO2R(ester or fats)+ OH R'OH + RCOO

Acidic drain openers [edit]

Acid drain cleaners usually contain
sulfuric acid (sulphuric acid) at high
concentrations.[2] It can dissolve proteins
and fats via hydrolysis and since sulfuric
acid at high concentrations also has a
strong dehydrating property, it readily
dissolves tissue paper inside pipes
through dehydration as well.
Acidic drain cleaners usually
contain sulfuric acid (sulphuric acid) at
a high concentration which turns a
piece of pH paper red and chars it
instantly.

According to a manufacturer, potential

hazards include violent reaction with
water and the production of explosive
hydrogen vapors upon contact with most
metals; chronic (delayed) and acute
(immediate) health hazards if inhaled,
ingested, or contacted, including severe
eye, flesh and skin burns or even
permanent visual loss, inflammation of
respiratory membranes, and corrosive
burns to all human tissue. It may even
be fatal if swallowed.[3] Due to the

Apart from grease and hair, an

acidic drain cleaner containing sulfuric
acid can be also used to dissolve tissue
paper inside water pipes.

vigorous reaction between the acid and

water, such acidic drain openers should
be added slowly into the pipe to be
cleaned.
Here are the ways where acidic drain
openers hydrolyze proteins and fats via
acid hydrolysis, similar to their alkaline
versions mentioned above:
RCONH2(amide or proteins)+ H2O + (H+
or acid) NH4+ + RCOOH

RCO2R'(ester or fats) + H2O + acid or

dehydrating agent (e.g. conc. sulfuric
acid)

RCO2H + R'OH

Sulfuric acid at high concentrations in

drain openers also dehydrates
The acid in drain openers reacts

substances containing carbohydrates,

with aluminium oxide on the surface of

some pipes.

like tissue paper which consists of

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

Usage considerations [edit]

Advantages of chemical drain cleaners include ready availability of some
formulations through retailer stores and potential ease of use for removing soft
hair and grease clogs that accumulate close the drain openings.
Disadvantages of chemical drain cleaners include a lack of effectiveness for
removing clogs far from the drain opening (for example, clogs that occur in
toilets[4] or in the main sewer drain), an inability to remove most solid
obstructions, and the safety considerations outlined below.
Danger arises from chemical drain cleaners' potential to injure eyes, lungs, and
skin; and damage to clothing and household materials such as wood, paint,
aluminum, and fiberglass. Chemical drain cleaners should be used only
according to the manufacturer's instructions, as other use may cause injury.[5]
Strongly corrosive and acid drain cleaners are among the most hazardous
household products available to the public. Chemical drain cleaners can cause
strong reactionssometimes explosivelywith other chemicals that may have
been used previously, which can result in serious injury to anyone in the
vicinity.[6]

Handheld drain augers

[edit]

Further information: Plumber's snake

Handheld drain augers are typically
designed to clean portions of a drain
within 8 metres (25 ft) of the drain
opening. The cable of a handheld drain
auger is driven into a drain by the
mechanical force created when the
operator rotates a drum that anchors the
cable.
Many handheld augers have cables that

Handheld drain auger

are thin enough to pass through

common sink traps, though some manufacturers do not recommend using
handheld drain augers in toilets because of their potential to scratch ceramic
surfaces. Instead, a special closet auger (from "water closet") should be
used.[citation needed]
Similar to handheld augers, drain rods can be used for clearing blockages in
long, straight pipes.
Advantages of handheld drain augers include low relative cost and ready
availability through hardware stores. However, drawbacks include a reach that
is 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 effective
on small diameter pipes - 40-50mm rather than main sewer pipes of 110mm.
Safety considerations include a requirement to wear protective gloves and eye
protection, and to practice good hygiene after coming into contact with drain
fluids.

Air burst drain cleaners

[edit]

Air burst drain cleaners use accelerated carbon dioxide, air or other gas to
rupture the clog membrane. Accelerated gas creates a force on standing water
that can dislodge clogs that accumulate close to drain openings.
Advantages of air burst drain cleaners include the potential to immediately clear
clogs and slow-running drains, in contrast to chemical cleaners that can take
more time to work. Air burst cleaners can dislodge obstructions that are further
away from drain openings than can a plunger, and in contrast to a drain augers
do not risk scratching the ceramic surfaces of sinks, bathtubs and toilets.
Disadvantages of air burst drain cleaners include a limited cleaning range in
pipes that do not contain standing water and, in general, ineffectiveness for
unclogging blocked main sewer drains.
Safety considerations for air burst drain cleaners include a requirement to wear
eye protection and, when using an air burst cleaner that uses compressed gas
cartridges, careful handling of unused cartridges.

Home remedy drain cleaners

[edit]

Home remedy drain cleaners include boiling water poured into drain openings
to clear soap and hair clogs; or, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) poured into
a drain, followed by vinegar.[7]
Advantages of home remedy drain cleaners include ready availability and
environmental safety, though they are limited in effectiveness compared to
other drain cleaners.
Safety considerations for home remedy drain cleaners include the requirement
to 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 up

obstructions and flush these smaller particles down the drain.
Most municipal building codes mandate that drain plumbing increase in
diameter as it moves closer to the municipal sewer system. Ie, most kitchen
sinks evacuate water with a 1-1/2" drain pipe, which feeds into a larger 4" drain
pipe on the main plumbing stack before heading to a septic tank or to the city
sewage system. This means that, barring intrusion by tree roots or other debris
into buried piping, the vast majority of household drain clogs occur in the
smallest diameter piping, usually in the pop-up or drain trap, where they can be

reached easily by a hydro-mechanical device's water hose.

Advantages of hydro-mechanical drain cleaners are their eco-friendliness (most
use only tap water), their ability to dislodge and remove clogs like sand or cat
litter that 'back-fill when using a conventional snake, and their friendliness to
plumbing joints. Unlike air-burst cleaners, hyrdo-mechanical drain cleaners do
not pressurize plumbing joints. On some models of hydro-mechanical drain
cleaner both hot and cold water can be used, providing added cleaning power
for fat, protein, or other easily melting drain clogs.
Disadvantages of hydro-mechanical drain cleaners included limited reach into
drain plumbing, and the necessity of a water source to act as the motive agent.
Safety considerations for hydro-mechanical drain cleaners include the risk of
injury from hi-pressure water coming into contact with skin or delicate areas of
the body (i.e., eyes, and face).

Electric drain cleaners

[edit]

Electric drain cleaners, also called

plumber's snakes, use the mechanical
force of an electric motor to twist a
flexible cable or spring in a clockwise
direction and drive it into a pipe. Electric
drain cleaners are commonly available
with cable lengths of up to 40 metres
and can go as far as 80 metres.
Advantages of electric drain cleaners

Electric drain cleaner

include the ability to clean long sections

of 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 while
maintaining 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 wear
work gloves and eye protection, to carefully control the cable during operation to
avoid overstressing it, to use appropriate caution when working around rotating
machinery, and to use properly grounded electrical outlets.[8]

Sewer jetters

[edit]

A sewer jetter is composed of a controlled high-pressure water source such as

a pressure washer or reciprocating displacement pump, a flexible high pressure
line (called a Jetter Hose which connects the High Pressure Engine to the MiniReel) of up to hundreds of metres (several hundred feet) in length, the MiniReel (a hose reel which can be taken a distance from the engine) and a nozzle
that uses hydraulic force to pull the line into sewer drains, clean the sides of

pipes, and flush out residue. High

Pressure Sewer Jetters can be mounted
on trolleys, inside vans or on trailers.
The power of a Sewer Jetter ranges
from 1000psi up to 5000psi. Sewer
Jetter nozzles come in different sizes
and applications, a bullet type nozzle
with a streamlined profile can clear a
hole for the larger root cutting nozzle,
root cutter nozzles are designed to cut

Pressure Washer Sewer Jetter

Attachment, Nozzle End

roots with a spinning nozzle that shoots

a jet stream horizontally inside the pipe. 5000psi Sewer Jetters with a root
cutting nozzles can clear a hole through the center of a root infested sewer line
and with its rear facing jet streams cut the roots and clean the pipe walls
flushing the root debris through the sewer line. The Sewer Jetter has been
labeled as a technological advancement of the Plumber's snake (also known as
an Electric Eel) drain clearing method.
Portable sewer jetters and pressure washer sewer jetter attachments are
primarily used by service personnel and homeowners to remove soft
obstructions throughout the length of a building's sewer drain and to prevent the
recurrence of clogs by cleaning the sides of drain pipes and flushing out
residue. Pressure washer sewer jetter attachments are generally lower in cost
and weight than electric drain cleaners with an equivalent reach, and can
present a lower risk of scratching plumbing fixtures.[9]
Truck and trailer-mounted sewer jetters used by municipalities and larger
service companies benefit from the high hydraulic horsepower delivered by
powerful displacement pumps and so can remove tree roots and other solid
obstructions.
Advantages of sewer jetters include the
relative ease of penetrating long sewer
lines and the ability to remove residue
that accumulates along the sides of
sewer pipes, thereby reducing the need

Pressure washer sewer jetter nozzle

for subsequent drain cleaning.

Disadvantages of pressure washer sewer jetter attachments and many portable
jetters include an inability to extract tree roots and other hard obstructions.
Disadvantages of truck and trailer mounted sewer jetters include high relative
cost and weight, and the requirement for extensive training to comply with
manufacturers' safety guidelines.
Safety considerations for sewer jetters include a requirement to wear protective
gloves and eye protection, to avoid contact with sewer drain fluids, and to
ensure that the jetter nozzle operates only inside the sewer pipe.[10]
Furthermore, larger truck and trailer-mounted units that operate with sufficient
power to cut tree roots require extensive training and strict adherence to

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

Enzymatic drain cleaners

[edit]

Enzymatic drain cleaners contain

bacteria cultures and concentrated
enzymes that react with organic residue
that builds up on sewer pipes, dissolving
the residue to help prevent slow-running
drains. Most enzymatic drain cleaners
are intended for general maintenance to
maintain proper flow and are not
intended to clear fully clogged drain

Enzymatic drain cleaner

pipes.
Advantages of enzymatic drain cleaners include relative safety for use in a wide
range of plumbing fixtures, low environmental impact, low cost and ease of use.
Disadvantages of most enzymatic drain cleaners include longer cleaning times
compared to most other drain cleaners. Because enzymatic cleaners rely on
liquid flowing through the pipe to disperse, they are also generally not intended
to open completely clogged drains.
Safety considerations for enzymatic drain cleaners include a requirement to
avoid 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 the
Philippines.

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
2007
4. ^ 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 2009
6. ^ "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 Manual
9. ^ 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

This page was last modified on 20 April 2015, at 10:52.

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