), is a strong alkaline substance that works through . It reacts with the grease and fats trapped in your pipes, effectively turning them into soap that can be washed away with water.
There is a visceral drama to using caustic soda drain cleaner that is absent from almost any other household chore. When mixed with water, the dissolution of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic. It releases significant heat. In a kitchen sink, one can feel the porcelain warm up, sometimes becoming uncomfortably hot to the touch. The water may begin to boil on its own, a roiling, murky cauldron hidden in the dark of the U-bend. drain cleaner with caustic soda
Let it sit for . For tough clogs, wait up to 1 hour. You may hear bubbling or hissing—this is normal. ), is a strong alkaline substance that works through
Unlike acids, which burn through a process of dehydration and destruction, caustic soda operates through a mechanism known as saponification . When a homeowner pours those crystalline beads or thick gel down a clogged drain, they are initiating a violent reaction. The sodium hydroxide hydrolyzes the fats and oils that have accumulated in the pipe, turning them into soap. It effectively "un-makes" the clog, transforming a solid mass of kitchen grease into a soluble liquid that can be washed away. When mixed with water, the dissolution of sodium
After waiting, slowly run down the drain for 2–3 minutes to flush away the dissolved material.