Drain Cleaner
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Create account Log in Article Talk Read Edit VieMw ohriestorySearch Wiki Loves Earth in focus during May 2015 Discover nature, make it visible, take photos, help Wikipedia! Main page Contents Featured content Drain cleaner Current events From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Random article Donate to Wikipedia This article needs additional citations for Wikipedia store verification. Please help improve this article by Interaction adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced Help material may be challenged and removed. (July About Wikipedia Community portal 2014) Recent changes A drain cleaner is a chemical based consumer product that unblocks sewer Contact page pipes or helps to prevent the occurrence of clogged drains. The term may also Tools refer to the individual who uses performs the activity with chemical drain What links here cleaners or devices known as plumber's snake. Drain cleaners can be classified Related changes Upload file in two categories: chemical, or device. Special pages If a single sink, toilet, or tub or shower drain is clogged the first choice is Permanent link normally a drain cleaner that can remove soft obstructions such as hair and Page information grease clogs that can accumulate close to interior drain openings. Chemical Wikidata item drain cleaners, plungers, handheld drain augers, air burst drain cleaners, Cite this page and home remedy drain cleaners are intended for this purpose. Print/export If more than one plumbing fixture is clogged the first choice is normally a Create a book drain cleaner that can remove soft or hard obstructions along the entire Download as PDF length of the drain, from the drain opening through the main sewer drain to Printable version the lateral piping outside the building. Electric drain cleaners and sewer Languages jetters are intended for this purpose. Dansk Deutsch Each type of drain cleaner has advantages, disadvantages, and safety Français considerations as described below. Magyar Nederlands Svenska Edit links 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 Solid Formulation of an alkaline hypochlorite (bleach) and lye (sodium 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 Bottles of alkaline drain cleaners of the substances that form the clog. containing sodium hydroxide can Solid formulations of corrosive alkaline 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 According to a manufacturer, potential a high concentration which turns a hazards include violent reaction with piece of pH paper red and chars it water and the production of explosive instantly. 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 vigorous reaction between the acid and Apart from grease and hair, an water, such acidic drain openers should acidic drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid can be also used to dissolve tissue be added slowly into the pipe to be paper inside water pipes. 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 substances containing carbohydrates, The acid in drain openers reacts with aluminium oxide on the surface of like tissue paper which consists of some pipes. 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 reactions—sometimes explosively—with 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