Drain care 101
Posted by Vince on April 09, 2004 at 08:44:53:
In response to Drain care 101
What you are trying to do is fine and dandy BUT you apparenty have no knowledge to help you actually understand what you are experimenting with.

If you have a clog of the materials you listed, and the clog is so compacted that no water is able to move...only a mechical means (sewer rodder, jet rodder, even a plunger, you get the idea) will open this back up to allow water to flow.

Now, let's take this same clog and have the ability of some limited water movement through the clog. This is where a chemical such as Drano or Liquid Cobra (high alkaline or strong acid cleaners) will come into play. These would dissolve these materials in a fairly short time. The problem with chemicals is that it also attacks the pipe and is harmful to the sewage treatment plant or septic tank. On cast iron drain lines, an acid will leave a black coating behind which is a sulfide based compound. This will start the process of corroding the line from the inside out. If you use any chemical in a porcelain lav or toilet, just put a kick me sign on your back, because you have just made stains that can not be removed.(this is why you always see drano ads with kitchen sink clogs and stainless steel sinks) This is why many plumber will tell you chemicals are bad for your drains and fixtures.

Now to a product like bio-clean. These products are strictly a preventive maintenance product. Enzymes do nothing more than break down organic matter into basic water and gas, given time. There are also factors such as temperature that affect how well the enzymes work. It works by dissolving the build up of oil, grease, organic waste, etc, on drain lines which start the drain blockage process. Enzymes will break down hair, but protein (hair) is a difficult process for the little guys.

No product made, that you pour down the drain, will repair broken lines, lines that have settled, or poorly designed drains from homeowners doing their own work.

Bioclean will eventually break your clog up into a condition that will allow it to pass through the drain but it is not made for the experiment you have described.

Keep it going for a few daze, let us know what happens...

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