Is lye better than sulfuric acid?

Lye can form a solid crystal plug and pressure can build beneath it and blow it right into your unprotected eyes. Sulphuric acid can produce enough heat to melt through plastic pipe, as well as removing the tarry surface from cast iron, causing premature failure.

Why can you unclog a kitchen sink drain by pouring lye down into it?

Lye. When the lye dissolves the grease, it releases explosive hydrogen. This could detonate your drains, except the hydrogen gets safely absorbed by the sodium nitrate. The pros of lye are that it’s effective against sticky clog-smears like what you find in kitchen sinks, as well as thick hair clogs in bathrooms.

Is lye an effective drain cleaner?

Unclog drains with lye. It is an effective substance for use in unclogging drains and is often one of the active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners. Lye works because it is caustic and actually dissolves hair and grease, which are the root causes of the drain clog.

What happens when you mix sulfuric acid and lye?

Oven cleaners have sodium hydroxide (lye) and will cause extreme heat if mixed with sulfuric acid (like Liquid Plumber) or hydrochloric acid (like toilet bowl cleaner). The fumes from lye alone are dangerous to contact lens wearers and mucous membranes. Lye can cause burns. Raid is flammable around heat or open flame.

Can I use sulfuric acid in my drain?

Sulfuric acid is very simple to use and will unclog a drain within an hour, usually within seconds if it’s not completely plugged up. Sulfuric acid is naturally occurring and is sewer and septic safe as it is diluted in its journey down your pipes.

Is Lye Sulphuric acid?

Drain cleaner is made with sodium hydoxide (lye) or sulfuric acid. The problem is, while sodium hydroxide (lye) and sulphuric acid break down organic material well, people are also organic material! It is also corrosive for the pipes themselves.

What will eat through hair in a drain?

Combining baking soda and vinegar is a natural way to dissolve hair clogs, without resorting to harsh chemicals. Pour a cup of baking soda down the clogged drain first, and then after a few minutes add a cup of vinegar.

How do you use sulfuric acid drain cleaner?

For severe clogs, slowly apply 500 ml (half of a Liter bottle) of sulfuric acid to the clog. Let sit for an hour, and then test for drain opening by applying water. If the clog has not been cleaned out, apply another 250ml or 500 ml of sulfuric acid and allow to sit for another hour.

Will lye damage PVC pipes?

Reactions of Lye and PVC Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm PVC piping. The chemical should not react with the surface of the PVC piping, but if used incorrectly at high concentrations, it could eat away at a crack or flaw in the piping, causing it to fail.

Is sulfuric acid good for drains?

What happens when you mix sulfuric acid and ammonia?

Ammonia reacts with sulfuric acid to produce ammonium sulfate and water.