How does Drano / Liquid Plumber work ?

[brtspears2]

Does the liquid just eat away at your pipes or just somehow magically melt whatever is inside the pipe to free the clog ?

But, when things really go bad, I just give up and break out the snake.

 

[spanky]

yes it eats away at the pipes.

 

[Jittles]

It is a strong base and it dissolves organic stuff such as hair which would be the most common clog. I forget exactly how that all works but it has something to do with carbon based stuff or somethin...

Betcha Google would know.

EDIT: apparently it also has some acid in it... still not sure though.

 

[The Stigenator]

its an acid that reacts with water.. .. bacially its an acid that eats stuff, normally it shouldt eat pipes. but it has been known to do so.

 

[GasX]

it's not acid, it's alkali

 

[bunker]

Question: How does Liquid Plumber get rid of all of the grease build-up?
---Joe

Answer:
Two ways at least as I understand it....heat and stirring.
Many commercial drain openers contain a suspension of
aluminum in concentrated NaOH. When you pour this into your drain,
and then add water, water + NaOH + Al --> H2(g) + heat + other stuff.
The heat helps melt the grease, and the H2 stirs up the clog
so that it tends to break up more easily.

Source: Kotz and Purcell, "Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity"

 

[Scouzer]

Its a strong base most of the time. You can't have a base and an acid, one will neutralize the other. Well, that's according to my Gr9 science... I'm sure there's something more complicated about it...

If I recall, my 25 year old textbook said most drain cleaners are around 15 pH. Probably has changed though...

 

Lye

A very strong base which breaks down organic matter on contact.

 

[Nefrodite]

Originally posted by: Roger
Lye

A very strong base which breaks down organic matter on contact.

isn't that the powder they shovel on dead bodies?

 

isn't that the powder they shovel on dead bodies?

You are thinking of Lime.

 

[SeaSerpent]

But, when things really go bad, I just give up and break out the snake.

You really shouldnt put your snake in the plumbing

 

[danzig]

Drano and similar drain openers don't work too well - if you can find it there is a product called Thrift . Thrift works much better , I know the liquid form has a high concentration of sulfuric acid . Don't flame me , I know it's not an answer to the question , just personal experience.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: danzig
Drano and similar drain openers don't work too well - if you can find it there is a product called Thrift . Thrift works much better , I know the liquid form has a high concentration of sulfuric acid . Don't flame me , I know it's not an answer to the question , just personal experience.

I found Draino worked wonders on my sink. It was really clogged up bad, just poured the Draino in there and let it sit for 25mins and the sink was like new. Acid sounds bad for the pipes...

 

[danzig]

Glad they worked well for you dude . Drano is like a homeowner power tool , good for light duty work . Thrift , and similar products are like professional power tools like the Milwaukee Hole Hawg - bad to the bone.