But pouring things like Liquid-Plumr, Drano, or even boiling water down your drain might do more harm than good. This is especially true if your home has cast iron pipes, which are still common in many houses. Chemical cleaners can eat away at your pipes, and boiling water can melt important components.
Water boils at 212º and cast iron pans without an enamel coating can withstand up to 1500°F. So boiling a little water won't damage your pan. If you don't season your pan well, rust can form in no time, though. If you boil water for too long, you risk wearing down the layer of seasoning.
The pipes are held together with glue that becomes susceptible when the boiling water rushes over it. The damage is often not observed immediately but rather progressively deteriorates as time goes on. Additionally, your own health should be taken into consideration.
One of the best tools for cleaning cast iron pipes is a cast iron pipe descaler. But, if you don't have a descaler, you can use vinegar and baking soda solution. Apart from cleaning the exterior surface of the pipes, you can establish a plumbing maintenance program with a safe and organic enzymatic drain cleaner.
Why can't you boil water in cast iron? When you have water at a constant boil in seasoned cast iron, the boiling causes the seasoning to release. This can leave patchy seasoning or an uneven layer of seasoning left on your cast iron.
While it is okay to pour boiling water down sink drains, you should never use boiling water in your toilet, as the heat can cause the porcelain to crack. Instead, run your tub until the water is hot and fill a good-sized stockpot or bucket with it.
Do not use steel wool, wire brushes, or abrasive sponge pads. Use only nonscratch cleaning pads.
PIPE DAMAGE
Prolonged use of any drain cleaning chemical will weaken the integrity of cast iron and eventually the bottom of the pipes will rot out and fall apart. PVC pipes also can be damaged! It's expensive to repair corroded pipes - so be careful!
Pinhole leaks, cracks, and even some larger holes in cast iron can be patched using epoxy or a combination of epoxy and waterproof repair tape, depending on the severity of the damage.
Frozen water expands, creating pressure that can cause pipes to crack or burst, which can be expensive. Be aware of the warning signs for frozen or burst pipes. If you suspect there's a burst pipe, act quickly. Avoid using boiling water to unfreeze your home's pipes.
Boiling water can only remove solids and bacteria, meaning it will not remove harmful substances such as chlorine and lead from tap water. Furthermore, boiling tap water with lead actually concentrates this contaminant making it more dangerous than if left alone.
Boiling water is also an excellent alternative for cleaning glass pipes and bongs. You don't want to boil your glass, as this could cause it to break, but you can soak it in hot water to break up residue and buildup. Boil enough water to submerge your glass pipe.
Pouring boiling water down the sink is not a solution that will work for you in the long run. It will only cause the grease and debris to move further down the drain and stick to its sides, making them difficult to reach and eliminate.
Soaking cast iron in water is a recipe for rust. If you need to remove sticky or stubborn stuck-on food, use a nylon scrubbing brush or a pan scraper and rinse under warm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry your pan. Note: If you do accidentally leave your pan in water for too long and it develops rust, don't panic!
Myth: High heat will damage the pan's nonstick finish. Fact: Nonstick pans with Teflon™ coatings can stand the heat. You can heat a nonstick pan up to 260 °C (500 °F) without damaging the finish. What's more, 260 °C (500 °F) is well above the temperatures required for boiling, frying, and baking.
Wear and tear is normal in residential pipe systems. One frequently asked question is “How long do cast iron drain pipes last?” Cast iron waste pipes last anywhere between 50 and 100 years. However, it may be time to replace cast iron pipes long before their lifetime is up.
It all depends on the geographic location of the home and the pipes. While homes with cast iron pipes laid in clay soil tend to be more likely to have corrosion, homes built in sandy soil often have pipes that last longer. Cast iron is durable and strong.
The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.
A: Yes, this product is safe to use in all types of pipes.
Using bleach on most metals will cause them to oxidize and rust. This includes aluminum, copper, stainless steel, silver, cast iron, and more. Instead, you should use a cleaner that is safe for the type of metal that you are cleaning.
The surface of the pipe has some brownish-orange rust.” This is a classic case of pipe corrosion. Corrosion is largely caused by hydrogen sulfide gas from sewage, which collects inside pipes and oxidizes. Sulfuric acid eats away at pipe walls, weakening and cracking them at the seam.
A disadvantage of cast iron sinks are that they can be susceptible to chipping if something heavy is dropped and scuffs but minor chips can be repaired. Metal pots might also mark the surface of the sink when washed but scratch marks can be rubbed off with cleanser.