View Full Version : Sulphuric acid or sodium hydroxide to unblock the pipes?
The pipe that drains the bath slowly blocks in our rented flat. Basically there's not enough drop on it and it silts up and eventually blocks if we don't periodically run some drain cleaner down it.
It's expensive buying it in the supermarket and I've noticed it's just sodium hydroxide which I can buy much cheaper in quantity and mix it up myself. However, when the pipes blocked completely once the plumber used strong suphuric acid. I can also get this in bulk but it was very smelly.
What are the pros and cons of each and any reason why I shouldn't go for one over the other? It's a plastic bath with chrome fittings and the old soil pipe is iron. Changing the plumbing is not an option due to renting, crazy landlady and shared drainage with upstairs flat.
leowyatt
25-09-2008, 13:01
No idea mate, but the mr muscle stuff we use isn't too expensive and works a treat
chumpychops
25-09-2008, 13:07
Cant you get a good plunger and apply some welly to it?
I have a guy that sometimes comes wrong to unblock me. Very reasonable rates, though given the size of his tool he charge a lot more.
It's £3.50 a pop and 1Kg of NaH crystals is about £3 which will be about 5 applications.
Cant you get a good plunger and apply some welly to it?
I have a guy that sometimes comes wrong to unblock me. Very reasonable rates, though given the size of his tool he charge a lot more.
Lol. I did this last time and it dislodged a chunk of scale that blocked the soil pipe completely. It was a massive job then to pull all the bathroom apart to fix it. The plumbing in this block is a joke.
Stop pussying around and use both.
At the same time? ;D
I use a compressed air plunger myself, which works for me, but you need sound plumbing and regular application for that to be viable.
chumpychops
25-09-2008, 13:16
At the same time? ;D
I use a compressed air plunger myself, which works for me, but you need sound plumbing and regular application for that to be viable.
Yeah. Ive heard some horror stories of pipes literally exploding....
Von Smallhausen
25-09-2008, 13:17
More chemical capers with Jonny. :D
cleanbluesky
25-09-2008, 13:20
Tip liquid AIDS down your drains, you wont be sorry
Things have moved on CBS, AIDS deluxe or AIDS 2.0?
cleanbluesky
25-09-2008, 13:30
Things have moved on CBS, AIDS deluxe or AIDS 2.0?
old school rules
cleanbluesky
25-09-2008, 13:31
HI I'M BARRY SCOTT AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT LIQUID AIDS...
LOOK WHAT IT DOES TO A PENNY
Metalface Mark
25-09-2008, 13:38
I watched an episode of CSI last night where a young girl killed someone by using sodium hydroxide in a shower.
Kaboom!
leowyatt
25-09-2008, 13:42
You don't to use the whole bottle Johnny!!! We never have :D
I watched an episode of CSI last night where a young girl killed someone by using AIDS in a shower.
Kaboom!
:shocked:
Stan_Lite
25-09-2008, 13:46
HI I'M BARRY SCOTT AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT LIQUID AIDS...
LOOK WHAT IT DOES TO A PENNY
:D:D
Sulphuric acid dude. We used to use it to clear the waste disposal units when I worked in an old folks home. It'll dissolve anything. Don't use any more than the recommended amount and make sure the area is well ventilated and try not to breathe in the fumes - better still, wear a vapour mask. Also, make sure you flush loads of water down it afterwards to take away any residue - that **** will eat your pipes. Try not to get any on the chrome bits I'm not too sure about chrome but it used to leave black marks on the stainless steel sinks in the home - better to be careful.
PS: We will, of course, require a video if it all goes tits up :p
HI I'M BARRY SCOTT
I remember the first time I saw one of those adverts - first I mis-read what the name of it was (:o) and then I was sure it had to be a p*sstake - I refused to believe it was real until I saw it in the shops ;D
You don't to use the whole bottle Johnny!!! We never have :D
We do. Doesn't do anything otherwise :(
I think it's going to be the NaOH because of the iron pipe and I don't know the condition inside. Eating through that would be bad.
Oh, and the smell.
Well ones a strong acid and the others a strong alkali so it's horses for courses really. If the problem is limescale then I'd expect Sulphuric Acid to do the job better than NaOH due to lime (CaCO3) being alkaline.
Oh and I wouldn't recommend putting them both in as they'll probably just cancel each other out:
H2SO4 + 2NaOH -> Na2SO4 + 2H2O
Stan_Lite
26-09-2008, 05:44
Oh and I wouldn't recommend putting them both in as they'll probably just cancel each other out:
H2SO4 + 2NaOH -> Na2SO4 + 2H2O
Also causing a chemical reaction which generates quite a bit of heat ;)
How about just using some Thermite? The drain will never be blocked again.
Granted, it won't actually be there to be blocked, but will save you having to unblock it every so often.
leowyatt
26-09-2008, 12:00
is he still alive????
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