Have you ever wondered how drain cleaner works? Discover exactly how drain cleaner works and the science behind it.
Over just 5 years, New York City spent $18 million trying to combat sewer backups, 71% of which were caused by grease. Fort Wayne, Indiana, spends $500,000 a year trying to do the same. It’s a growing problem across the United States!
Luckily, a blockage in your bathroom or kitchen sink isn’t quite as expensive or challenging to solve! Although many different solutions exist, from the plumbing snake drain cleaner tool to the classic plunger, chemical cleaner is a common choice.
But how does drain cleaner work? Can you make homemade, natural drain cleaner? To discover the answers to these questions and more, keep reading!
What Causes Blockages?
A blocked sink will always be inconvenient, no matter which room it is in. Even minor blockages or build-up can produce an unpleasant drain smell. Different materials will block each type of drain, so understanding the differences is important so you can choose the right drain cleaner to use.
Kitchen Sink
The drain in your kitchen sink tends to be larger than your bathroom sink due to the larger volume of solid or semi-solid waste expected to pass through them. Common substances that can lead to a clog include:
- Leftover food
- Grease
- Hair
- Coffee grinds
- Eggshells
- Small bits of paper or plastic
Often, the grease in a kitchen sink will build up until other items get caught in it. As the clog builds, it takes up more space in the pipe until no water can get through.
Bathroom Sink
Your bathroom sink, including the drains in your shower or bathtub, will typically become clogged by whatever comes off our bodies. This can include:
- Hair
- Skin cells
- Dirt or bodily grease
- Nail clippings
- Phlegm
- Oils from hygiene products
- Band-aids
As with kitchen sinks, the natural buildup of grease and oil leads to objects gathering mass and eventually blocking your drain.
How Does Drain Cleaner Work?
Unclogging a drain comes down to a chemical reaction. Even though there are many different brands of clogged drain cleaner, they typically fall into one of three reaction types:
- Acids
- Caustics
- Oxidizers
Due to the differences in how these drain cleaners work, some are better suited to certain types of blockages than others. By understanding the science, you can choose the best drain cleaner for your home.
Acidic
You are unlikely to find acidic drain cleaner at your local store. They typically contain high concentrations of hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, both of which can cause severe skin burns, eye damage and are toxic if inhaled.
These work via a reaction known as acid hydrolysis, whereby the acid and the water react with one another. Hydronium ions from the cleaner solution are added to the water’s chemical structure to create heat. This heat essentially melts the material blocking the drain, including grease, hair, and food.
Plumbers will sometimes use acidic cleaner for substantial blockages, often as a last resort. Not only can the chemicals be dangerous to people, but they can damage drains as the substance can react dangerously with certain metals.
Oxidizing
Oxidizing drain cleaner is more common. The substance will typically contain nitrates, peroxides, or sodium hypochlorite (bleach). The substance reacts with the organic material blocking the drain by adding electrons to their chemical structure.
This reaction produces heat and gas, which breaks down the organic material. It also adds mass to the remaining components, causing them to shift in the pipes and be washed away more easily.
The volume of oxidizing agent present in the cleaner will determine the strength of the reaction, along with the length of time it’s applied and the materials it interacts with inside the drain. A standard bleach will typically only contain 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, which is a relatively weak solution.
Oxidizing drain cleaner is a popular choice because it’s safe when used correctly. The weight of the liquid allows it to sink in water, meaning that even when your drain is completely blocked, it will still be able to reach it and react.
Caustic
These drain cleaners often come in a solid form. They contain sodium hydroxide (lye), which works in two ways.
Firstly, it produces hydrogen gas when the substance reacts with water and aluminum. Secondly, as bases, they lose electrons to the blocked material. This is most noticeable with grease, which becomes easier to dissolve as it takes on a soap-like substance.
Caustic agents are heavier than water, allowing them to sink to the blockage. In high concentrations, they can create as powerful a reaction as a strong acid. But most household brands will only contain small amounts to keep them as safe as possible.
Enzyme Drain Cleaner
Not all cleaners rely on chemical reactions, though. While you may choose a chemical cleaner to combat a block, an enzyme drain cleaner can be a safer, less damaging alternative to maintaining the flow of water through your drains.
How does drain cleaner work without a chemical reaction?
A combination of enzymes and bacteria cultures feeds on the organic matter found within the drain. Mold build-up, food, hair, and other substances will be broken down as a result. As the bacteria digest the substances, they will divide and spread throughout the drain, cleaning as they go.
Homemade Cleaner
Most drain blockages don’t form overnight. The build-up will begin without noticeably affecting the flow of water, and so by the time you see that your water isn’t draining, you already have some form of blockage.
Regularly removing the grease, hair, food, and general sludge from your drains is vital for maintaining functionality. You could try a natural, homemade drain cleaner if you don’t want to spend money on expensive chemical or enzyme cleaners.
You only need two ingredients:
- ½ cup of baking soda
- 1 cup of vinegar
Just pour the baking soda into the drain, sit for a couple of seconds, and pour the vinegar on top. If you’re left with any chunks of baking soda on the top of the drain, add some more vinegar.
The reaction creates bubbles and air. As it flows down the drain, it will weaken any grease or trapped material. Leave it for about 10 minutes, and then run the hot tap for a few minutes to wash everything away.
Let’s Clean Some Drains
If you’re struggling with a drain that won’t unclog, you need professional drain cleaning services, or you have other plumbing, heating, or air problems that you can’t fix on your own, call (402) 731-2727 to schedule a service with Eyman today!