4 – Bleach can damage pipes. Bleach reacts with metal and is very corrosive, with rust or oxidation caused by the trading of electrons between the metal and bleach molecules. Copper pipes can also be damaged making them more prone to plumbing leaks.
It's okay if the pipes are not cast-iron (cast iron will rust because bleach is corrosive) like in older homes. I know bleach is an excellent plastic cleaner. Most updated plumbing uses heavy duty PVC pipes. Clorox Bleach will not harm the PVC pipes. I just boil 1 gallon or 2 of ``hot water'' and a...
Maintenance. James suggests pouring very hot water down the kitchen sink drain at least once a week. This can help prevent clog-causing buildup on the interior surface of pipes. Or you can pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes, followed by a rinse with two quarts of very hot water.
No, It's better not to pour bleach down a drain to unclog it. Bleach is ineffective for removing clogs and can damage pipes or create harmful fumes if mixed with other cleaning chemicals. Use a proper drain cleaner or a mechanical method like a plunger or plumber's snake instead.
Drain Line Material
Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan. If your drain line is PVC, stick to white distilled vinegar for clearing clogs and debris, particularly during winter.
Effects on Metal and PVC Pipes
While harmless for most metal and PVC pipes, prolonged exposure to the acidic nature of vinegar might corrode certain metals, like copper. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can withstand these substances without damage.
Cleaning AC Drain Line
We recommend using vinegar instead of a bleach solution because bleach can cause corrosion if you have copper tubing in your AC's drain line. In addition, spilling bleach can ruin your carpet or clothing, whereas vinegar does not harm; it just leaves an odor.
If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. To try this safe and easy method at home – first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.
Assuming the bleach is not mixed with any other chemicals, you can dilute it and pour it down a drain that has PVC plumbing. Undiluted bleach won't hurt PVC pipes, but bleach should be diluted before disposing of it by pouring it down a drain.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
Experts recommend regular users to clean their pipes once weekly, or at least when they start to notice resin buildup. The most popular method is to fill the pipe with coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol, plug up the holes with your fingers, and give it a good shake to dislodge stuck resin and particles.
If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.
The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.
No matter the size of your family, cleaning and disinfecting your toilet is an important part of keeping a clean home. This is easy to do with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach and your favorite toilet scrubbing brush.
The compounds in chlorine react with copper, steel and plastic polyethylene pipes in varying degrees potentially causing premature bursts or leakage.
Although you can use 1/5 to 3/4 of a cup of bleach to clean and deodorize drains, followed by a good flushing of hot water, it will not clear a clog. Bleach is amazing at sanitizing and killing germs, but it won't eat through hair and soap scum that's trapped in the pipes and causing a clog.
The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.
Like many chemicals found in your home, bleach can be corrosive to your pipes. Consistent dumping could eventually lead to it eating away at your lines and the process only gets sped up if bleach in your line comes into contact with other acid-based chemicals, or even vinegar.
Baking Soda And Vinegar Is A Potent Mixture That Dissolves Hair. Allow five minutes for this mixture to undergo a chemical reaction, where it formulates and fizzes.
For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Wait five minutes or so, for the chemical reaction of the vinegar and baking soda to take effect, then chase that with a cup or more of boiling water.
To make a drain snake, all you need is a wire coat hanger that you can unwind and straighten. Bend the end of the wire into a hook shape and insert it into the drain. Move it around until you feel resistance and then pull out any hair or debris that may be blocking the drain.
Pour One Cup of Bleach Down the Drain Line
Pour one cup of bleach down your drain line every month to help keep it free from clogs.
Add ¼ cup of distilled vinegar to the drain line through the opening where the cap was removed. It's recommended you use regular distilled white vinegar, as the increased acidity boosts its cleaning properties. If you find the smell of vinegar foul, you can also use peroxide or hot water and a dash of dish soap.
One often-overlooked yet crucial aspect of AC maintenance is keeping your drain lines clean. Over time, debris, mold, and algae can build up in these lines, causing clogs and potential damage to your AC unit. The good news is that you can easily tackle this task using a simple and eco-friendly solution: vinegar.