Have some muriatic acid left over from a job.
Have a slow drain.
Will it work as drain cleaner? If so, do I need to cut it?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about continuing education, minisplit heat pumps, compact home shops, and building science.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
What's your pipe made of, & what shape is it in?
& would it bother you to have to replace the pipe if the acid eats through it?
Just a couple of questions.
“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” —Benjamin Franklin
mr Plumbbill...can I use muriatic acid to clear a PEX line : )
Do I have to cut it first? : )
PO "I dunno guys. Methinks some people have way too much extra time on their hands". Jer
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
What, did ya have a void in your form & was trying to pump some cc in there?
;-รพ“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” —Benjamin Franklin
The pipe is galvanized and yes, it would be a pain to replace.
My brother used an acid cleaner to clear a clog in a SS kitchen sink. Ate clear through the SS.
Thanks for the reply. That's good to know.
Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid (HCL)which is a mineral acid. And that generally means it works on/dissolves mineral compounds as opposed to organic compounds.
HCL reacts readily and corrodes most metals, concrete, cmu's, limestone, etc., which are types of materials not usually found in drains.
HCL will work on lime deposits in stool bowls or other pocelain fixtures. Use with caution.
Most acid type drain cleaners are sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which is an organic dehydrant.
This means it consummes the water molecules within organic structures and breaks them down...hence a strong drain cleaner to remove the sludge that accummulates in slow draining pipes.
The down side is that the hyrdrolizing process generates heat and nasty smelling gases. There is often enough heat to soften and deform plastic piping, or if in a toilet bowl to crack the porcelain.
Sulfuric acid is strong stuff....my last choice as a drain cleaner. Mechanical methods are best...and safer.
...................Iron Helix
Iron Helix,
additionally---muriatic acid is " inhibited hydrocloric acid"
when i worked as an industrial hardchrome plater we used it to strip chromium off of steel molds-----usually we soaked them in it over night-------removing the chrome----with little effect on the steel.-after rinsing off the muriatic acid----we would stop the process with a wash of caustic soda.
we also sometimes soaked rusty parts in muriatic acid over night-or even for just a few hours to loosen/remove the rust.
just a guess--------- but I suspect muriatic acid would have to set in a trap for DAYS to damage it to any great extent--( heck we used to wash our hands in the stuff--back in the chrome shop)
Of course---what the O.P. is calling muriatic acid----may be different then the stuff WE used as muriatic acid.----of course we never used it as drain cleaner----------- i think what we used was caustic soda and aluminum chips---LOL
Best wishes,
Stephen
Had some reagent H2SO4 in a full bottle, was going to use that to clean the drain.
Left it open standing on the sink withthe water dripping off to the side, came back an hour later and the sink was clean, bottle still full, but setting a full bottle there only worked like that for 10 or so times
<G>
Thanks to everyone for their replies. I'll invest in some drain cleaner.
Have used M A to clean toilet bowls just add some to the water and let it set overnight.
Never Never add the acid to water in a cast iron tub. It will eat the finish off right down to the cast iron at the water level.(I learned this the hard way)
Good to know. Thanks
You had a case of the "vapors"! :)
.........Iron Helix
Best H2SO4 story is of 2 Nobel prize winners from Germany (cant recall the names right off) who had gone to Denmark but trapped there when the N##is took over. Illegal to have gold in 3rd Reich. Theuy dissolved their Noble medal in A.R. and set the jars on a shelf unlabeled. After the war, they sent them with the story to the Nobel committe who recalimed the gold and recast the medals.
Little Johnny took a drink, but he shall drink no more.
For what he thought was H2O was H2SO4.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I agree with most of the others who posted here--hydrochloric (muriatic) acid is not a good idea. It will eat through metal pipes and if it doesn't work, the next guy who works on the drain may get into that not knowing it's there. I think there was a story in the back "humorous story" part of an old issue of FHB magazine about a guy called into a restaurant because they were having drain problems and he found that the drain pipe seemed to have a defect--was very thin at the bottom--had a groove worn right through it from the inside. Found out they had grease problems and had dumped lots of degreaser down the sink. The degreaser was an acid (not sure which one) and it had dissolved the pipe.
I say not just no, but HELL NO!
Muriatic acid simply loves to eat metal, most any metal. So, you're just setting the stage for further plumbing problems. For that matter, the same applies to the sulphuric acid that is sold as a 'drain cleaner.' There's really no place in our plumbing for an acid drain opener.
Reason #2 is that you've likely used another drain opener already. many of these are based on lye. Lye = acid = lots of heat, pressure, and assorted nasties erupting back into your face. Not a good mix.
Finally, the best "solvent" for a clogged drain is often determined by just what the plug is made of. Now, if the pipe was plugged by rust and metal shavings, acid just might be a good idea. However, most such problems are caused by organic stuff, like hair and grease. Lye will attack those.
If a simple application of Drano fails to clear the pipe, it's time to get physical ... a snake, etc.
Hmm, Can I admit here that when in my youth (15 yrs ) I worked at a precious metals plating shop and made a very small error...
Was told to dump the tanks and vats of acid, cyanide , water , cleansers etc into the drains. Large quantities of water between each chemical.
Was given a very certain sequence to follow when doing so .
Got it, no problem!! I told the boss man ... and proceeded to dump 55 gal of sulfuric acid followed by 55 gallons of potassium cyanide. Then water from a 100 gallon tank.... I have to admit the blue fumes that started coming up out of the city sewer grates for blocks around that shop were right pretty in color.
City Health Inspectors wanted to give me a medal for ridding the entire west side of city of sewer rats, I declined, didn't think my boss would have wanted me taking it.
Boy I feel better now .
Edited 1/30/2007 9:41 pm ET by dovetail97128