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He has degrees in science and humanities and years of teaching experience. With caustic soda, plastic pipes can see extreme effects, so you may have to replace the trap.Use a drain auger, or snake, to clear blockages in the waste line past the trap. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in 2001. This will create a volcano like effect, with a lot of bubbling and a lot of steam, but when it clears up, the water should go down your drain much quicker. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.

Hold the plunger at an angle over the drain opening to allow it to fill with water, then fit it around the drain and pump vigorously. Sodium hydroxide lye is highly caustic and has the potential to burn the skin. Place 2 to 3 tsp. If your drain is a little slow, you can often clean it out and speed it up by mixing 1/4 cup of citric acid and baking soda, pouring it down the drain, and then pouring boiling water over it. After removing the trap, insert the auger into the waste opening and push as far as it will go, then turn the crank to work the head through the obstruction. How to Clean a Drain With Lye Step 1. Run clean, hot water through the pipes for one to two minutes to rinse all traces of the lye out of the pipes.Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. The reaction can be violent and may damage the pipes, could release harmful gases or may not work at all because only a small portion of the blockage is exposed to the vinegar.It's dangerous to combine caustic soda with any other chemicals in your drain, even hot water, because of the amount of heat released. Leave the room, and close the door to the room to contain the fumes.Allow the lye solution to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

Lye is extremely caustic and will burn your skin.Place 2 to 3 tsp. Wear gloves, goggles, protective clothing and a respirator when doing this, or you could be severely injured.A humble household sink plunger may be all you need to get out of your predicament and may help you avoid breaking into the pipes. How to Clear Blocked Pipes and Remove Solid Caustic Soda Try a Plunger or Drain Bladder First. Failing to clear the drain with a plunger or … If that alone does not do the job, you can again, try to apply method 1 and pour some very warm water in order to try to manage the rest of the waste. of water is required, so do not allow the faucet to run for more than a few seconds.Open any nearby windows, or turn on the ventilation fan. Since the hardened mass is blocking water flow, the sink, shower pan or bathtub is probably full of water, which is a good thing. Water is incompressible, and plunging is more effective when you're not pumping air.Put duct tape over sink overflow holes or other drains connected to the one you're trying to clear to help focus your efforts on the actual blockage. Lye is available in liquid, pellet, flake or powder from most home improvement or hardware stores. Lye works because it is caustic and actually dissolves hair and grease, which are the root causes of the drain clog.Put on gloves, eye protection and a mask before opening the lye.

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. An avid craftsman and musician, Deziel began writing on home improvement topics in 2010. A DIYer by nature, Deziel regularly shares tips and tricks for a better home and garden at Hunker.com. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. You're then left with a rock-hard mass that you have to clean out mechanically.If you want to use caustic soda for a blocked drain, your best bet is to use Drano or some other drain cleaner that contains caustic soda in the proper proportions for drain cleaning. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.

Be sure to be wearing gloves, goggles and clothing that covers your forearms to protect yourself from splashes.Failing to clear the drain with a plunger or bladder, your next step should be to disassemble the P-trap and physically clear the material out of the drain. If you can't clear the drain physically, don't hesitate to get professional help.Chris Deziel is a contractor, builder and general fix-it pro who has been active in the construction trades for 40 years. Avoid inhaling the fumes created by lye mixed with water. It is an effective substance for use in unclogging drains and is often one of the active ingredients in commercially available drain cleaners. If you went ahead and purchased sodium hydroxide crystals and simply poured them into the drain, and they hardened into a mass, you're probably going to have to disassemble the pipes. Step 3. If the blockage is in the trap itself, you'll want to empty the trap in a bucket as soon as you remove it and take the trap outside to chip out the hardened material. In this case, the crystals will settle in the trap or some other place in the pipes and won't dissolve. of lye directly into the hole of the clogged drain. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Put on gloves, eye protection and a mask before opening the lye. Only 1 or 2 tbsp. Sodium hydroxide lyeis an inorganic compound commonly found in drain cleaners like Draino. Caustic soda, more commonly known as sodium hydroxide or lye, can clean a drain quickly, but it's very aggressive, which means you've got problems if you use it in the wrong way — like pouring the crystals directly into the drain.