Real Plumber Tests BANNED Drain Cleaner

[@american162]

if someone were to use sodium hydroxide(Draino) and the clog did not budge but the Hydroxide is still there, then that concentrated sulphuric acid could react violently with the hydroxide and could cause it to shoot out like a geyser.

[@RogerWakefield]

Fun, but scary to know! That’s why I advise AGAINST drain cleaners. Thanks for sharing

[@Dan-yk6sy]

Grown man's baking soda + vinegar

[@Ariccio123]

Gotta neutralize it first

[@throttlebottle5906]

there's two part cleaners that more or rely upon reactions similar to that, but at more controlled levels. lol

[@Justin_Ebright]

We used to use Liquid Fire over at the beauty salon. It was about the only thing that'd bust through those hair clogs. But we also burnt up one of the crossover pipes because it had a bow. This stuff loves to eat metal. But it also cuts through those bad hair clogs too. I really wish it wasn't just readily available. It should have required a proper license. Just because it can be extremely hazardous.

[@RogerWakefield]

You should need a license! On KleenOuts website they state it should be used by professional or contractors only…scary stuff

[@EdwardTriesToScience]

In my opinion its fine if you just read the label and follow it, theres a label for a reason and as a chemist sulfuric acid really isnt that dangerous if you just heed the warnings and don't do something stupid. Most of the accidents I see from this stuff are people being ignorant and assuming its safe. It says acid for a reason on it and has bold red warnings.

[@catfishtv411]

Use Lye, its the simplest, it dissolves hair especially well and its safer than acid (still use PPE and be carefull!)

[@Justin_Ebright]

@@EdwardTriesToScience yeah but you and me aren't average cookies. Most people stumble through life without heeding warnings or understanding what they're actually working with. I've always said "there's always that one dummy" cause sadly that's as true as understanding eventually someone will invent a new way. But there are far more private piles than there are Albert Einsteins.

[@EdwardTriesToScience]

unfortunately, and even despite the warnings which are supposed to prevent people getting things taken down or suing for own stupidity companies and such still get pressured, its a shame because this stuff was the best quality sulfuric acid you could buy which was also cheap. a lab ive been to formerly had a stockpile of them because it was cheaper than the stuff from a lab supplier and worked fine

[@ranger178]

sulfuric acid reacts with water so when you take it out and put it in water it will get hot.

[@LogicalNiko]

It depends on the strength. Fuming sulfuric acid is specifically called “fuming” because it is at a strength where it can break the bonds in water.

[@shawnsmith9512]

Well logical niko you failed chemistry class didn’t you. Fuming sulfuric acid is anhydrous sulfuric acid in which sulfur trioxide is dissolved. Any water it finds it will convert into sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid of industrial grades is 92-98% H2SO4 it is a violently dehydrating substance. It will rip apart molecules and construct water to absorb.

[@shawnsmith9512]

Acid to water not water to acid. It will get hot enough to boil the water and then sling it everywhere. Extreme caution no matter how you dilute it.

[@catfishtv411]

Finally! After many months, my request has been fulfilled, another sulfuric acid video!! I love these, please make more!

[@RogerWakefield]

Any other product you’d like to see me test?

[@catfishtv411]

@@RogerWakefield I like the videos where you test out chemicals VS pipes and such! Keep up the good work!

[@anyonecansee4601]

CPVC withstands Sulfuric Acid even at high pressure and high concentrations.

[@alphaphoenix1938]

@@anyonecansee4601 I agree we actually use sch 80 in our factory to plumb our acid lines, we typically use hydrochloric but we also have PVC fixtures that we use every day in heated caustic and acid baths. I'm an electroplater so we use some pretty strong stuff, even fluoboric peroxide solution that will eat carbon, nickel, lead, copper, pretty much anything metal except stainless, and it's in a plastic tank, but it's poly pro

[@erikduerbeck4526]

Used that type of drain cleaner for years, basically to flush the pipes. Galvanized encased in concrete and they emptied into clay sewer pipe. I had a motorized snake i'd use 1st, i pulled 18 feet of clogged material out of a 45 foot run. As far as that black pipe that dissolved, that appears to be gray water drainage why use an acid on it?

[@LogicalNiko]

So with galvanized the sulfuric acid will eventually eat off the zinc. It takes awhile, but it will eventually remove all the protective coating.

[@EhnTeePee]

In California that type of pipe is used for sink drains. cleanouts and other stuff. He did a shoutout to California for that specific reason.

[@izaiahluce613]

You should have put baking soda in the water.

[@GuamanianHarmonLoop]

It looked like you had a collection of floaties in jars. Which product will dissolve the doodie?

[@k-rave2366]

I was wondering why I couldn’t find that stuff in stores anymore. lol I knew this stuff was strong the second I put it in my drain. Smoke started to get in the kitchen but man did it clean out the problem 😂

[@Dan-yk6sy]

Had a clog in an apartment tolet couldn't plunge out, the sulfuric acid cleared it in like 5 minutes. Hope there wasn't any galvanized pipe between there and the sewer though.

[@k-rave2366]

@@Dan-yk6sy yea same. My apartment is pretty old

[@azmrblack]

As Roger mentioned, ABS was used for many years in Arizona and California for DWV pipe - my 1982 built home has ABS. I've still seen it used in new construction. It transitions to the green PVC at the edge of the house foundation, and then to clay for the city tap. Those lye based formulations were made back before modern plastics were invented - it was galvanized, cast iron, copper (rare), or clay. Even though it seems compatible with most pipe types, almost 9/10 it doesn't work for clogs from what I've seen, unless they are pure hair clogs, they work OK sometimes.

[@WaffleStaffel]

The copper wasn't warm until you took it out and touched it. When sulfuric acid mixes with water it generates heat, and you had water on your gloves. ABS chemical compatibility is rated as B/"good" up to 75%. That cleaner is probably 85%. My guess is there's a filler in the ABS pipe that the acid is eating. Note that hot sulfuric acid is *much* more reactive. It would be interesting to repeat this experiment with lye.

[@markburton5292]

while i get what you say about a belly and the cleaner sitting in there. these however will dilute in water. so, I don't think it will stay in the pipe once you have it clear as the water will dilute it. this is also why they say to run the water for a period of time after the clog is cleared. that being said i would rather use a snake than drain cleaner.

[@RogerWakefield]

Snake over any drain cleaner…but did you see, even when I put the pipe in the water the cleaner was still reacting with the pipe…

[@markburton5292]

@@RogerWakefield I did but to be fair that's after it had been soaking and worked itself into and saturated the pipe material for 30days. I do however agree that drain cleaner has the possibility of damaging the pipe. For me it would be a last resort type of thing if I couldn't get it with a snake. drain cleaner has a chance. However that is only if I am going to be doing the work anyway. But this does make me wonder how the condensate from tankless water heaters or high efficiency boilers affects your pipes.

[@jacobbowling263]

Very entertaining video Roger I am going to give it a thumbs up.

[@RogerWakefield]

Glad you enjoyed it brother…

[@ct181]

I cut out some DWV copper on a kitchen sink that the homeowner had dumped drain O in 4 to 6 times a year. The bottom of the copper had been eaten away because the drain O would sit in these little pockets of build up.

[@throttlebottle5906]

direct quote form one of the ABS manufactures documentation. "The system shall be protected from chemical agents, fire-stopping materials, thread sealant, plasticized-vinyl products or other aggressive chemical agents not compatible with ABS compounds." I already knew that, but what I don't know is if it would attack and ruin foam(cellular) core faster than solid or not, being it has only thin inner & outer layers skinned on. not sure what the foam core consists of either.

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I have been using professional acid for years, but for iron rust stain removal, and hair removal. Always dilute the acid after use by flushing with plenty of COLD water, and add baking soda to the drain/pipes to neutralize the acid further. Is it dangerous? YES! It is dangerous! It is as strong as the acid in your car battery! Will it harm pipes? Yes! It will destroy certain pipes, some others, not so much. But it isn't for everyone!

[@philh8829]

Man, I have seen so many home reno shows where the main stack in the house is ABS. Almost all of them leak. Now I know why.

[@MidnightsCorner]

Why wouldn't using the plumbing rinse out the belly in the pipe? If you use the product and then dump a bucket of water down the drain, how would the chemical not be washed away?

[@LogicalNiko]

It depends if there is a density difference. In this case there is not, sulfuric acid will mix with water easily. But some thick gel like cleaners can sit at the low point and if there is not enough flow it will take many many gallons of water to flush them out fully.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

Sulfuric acid is powerful stuff. I had a clog in my left kitchen sink just before the T and it backed up. I was able to get it drained enough to pour sulfuric acid down the drain to dissolve whatever food waste was in the drain. But... I also removed some of the sink finish in the process. As a result, I try not to use that stuff. I now own a Ryobi 18v hybrid power snake tool to use as a 1st attempt tool because I won't use chemicals unless the power snake can't remove the clog.

[@derricknorberg9555]

How about testing clay pipe or orangeburg and lead pipe And wax ring and sink drain gaskets Made also plastic tuber pvc drain pipe

[@derricknorberg9555]

They sell clobber here it’s sulfur acid only license plumbers can get it in ky also we have sizzle it be cool if u can test that My company I work at likes thrift or glug the most we only use sizzle for urinals

[@TheCaptainLulz]

The ABS it probably destroyed the S (styrene) sulfuric acid will eat Styrofoam. The galvanized pipe is clean, but the zinc is gone. And what you said about the sagging pipes under a house, it still wont be there for long. Sulfuric acid LOVES water and it will be diluted to nothing in short order.

[@td000009]

stop getting contaminated gloves near your face or skin. you touching your safety glasses aaaaaa

[@LogicalNiko]

Nitric acid and Sulfuric acid are horrible on ABS. They also scour the rust off iron, allowing more of the iron to oxidize (rust) away faster.

[@zabnat]

I didn't even know sulfuric acid used as a drain cleaner. Any drain cleaner I can buy is potassium or sodium hydroxide based.

[@Morbius907]

I don't find any info saying it is banned. Even on the company website.

[@hooknbullet]

Is it really banned? I found it at a certain store that caters to small restaurants and hotels.

[@macD723]

Hey Roger, I had to laugh when you got to the ABS and mentioned CA. Last year, my friend flew me out to San Jose to replace all his sewer pipes that were cast. They were getting clogged. We went to get some PVC pipe, and found out they only carried a couple of sizes. So, we had to use ABS. So, I did a search to find out why. They stated that first, if the house catches on fire, the PVC will put out pollution. As if ABS and everything else in a house doesn't. Lol. Then, they also said because PVC doesn't hold up to the sun light. Well, first of all, I've seen PVC here in Texas that has been sitting outside for YEARS!! with no damage. Still fine and usable. The other thing is, PVC pipe is used UNDER THE HOUSE FOR THE DRAINS!! It's not even in sun light! I was born and raised in San Jose up until I was 15, and I just can't believe how that state has just gone downhill. It's crazy and to me, upsetting. My heart still belongs there, but I know I can never live there again with all the crazy laws and high prices.

[@BTW...]

Laws and Regulations are made to deal with unreasonable or criminal behaviors. Without laws your society would descend into a hellscape quickly. Perhaps you would like that, so you can do whatever you want without any regard for anyone or anything other than selfish arsehole will? The compounding and production of PVC is hazardous too. So is concentrated Sulphuric in the hands of a stupid idiot. High prices are a fact of life. Perhaps lower prices in other states is due to nobody paying taxes... that pay for the damage arseholes do... those who do whateva they want at the expense of others.

[@Morbazan125]

Too many people don’t periodically clear their drains and it would prevent so many problems, an man I’ve always hated having to unblock a drain where someone has dumped a ton of products down the trying to clear it. Even more so when they don’t tell you😂

[@BDaMan-et2qh]

I used liquid fire. After I let it sit for a while then I poured baking soda down the drain

[@throttlebottle5906]

*sulfuric* acid is used in the chrome plating process and others, so it's no wonder it removes it and many other things. obviously also used in batteries(lead acid), fertilizer, oil, gas, cleaners. at all sorts of dilution levels of course. nice brain to finger function. I typed sulphuric, when thinking sulfuric. 🤪

[@joshhasselgren3889]

Hey Roger, if it’s banned…how did ya get it?

[@RogerWakefield]

We’ve had it for over a year now because we used it in another video

[@joshhasselgren3889]

@@RogerWakefield makes sense! Love the vids.

[@joshhasselgren3889]

@@RogerWakefield it’s interesting what is inside drain cleaner. I’ve used potassium from inside drain cleaner to create hydrogen power cells

[@alphaphoenix1938]

I forgot this originally but, first great testing very interesting to a guy like me, but I don't believe this would actually cause a problem, I know you say it can lay in a bow I get that, but if it's properly flushed and used often the chemical should be so diluted it wouldn't cause a problem, unless you use the drain cleaner very often.

[@RogerWakefield]

Did you see how it was still reacting with the pipe fully submerged in the water?

[@alphaphoenix1938]

@@RogerWakefield I mean true, I work with chemicals commonly used in these drain cleaners everyday though and it's also standing water not a flush rinse, I mean I shouldn't say I don't believe it would, I guess it's plausible, I just would think if it's being flushed or wouldn't cause that issue, although acids and such are thicker than water so it may lay in the bow, this test is pretty interesting but I think maybe try to put a bow on a pipe pour your drain cleaner in for the amount of time specified and flush it out then let it set with standing water/chemical if there's enough left to deteriorate ABS

[@shawnsmith9512]

The acid is actually more damaging to metal when diluted. The concentrated acid is not ionized so much, but once diluted it can much more readily react. Sorry you live in a communist state where they are happy to take a useful tool out of your arsenal. Especially since the powers that be probably never touched a tool that wasnt a lobbyist.

[@littlehuey5679]

Should do the same test with lye !

[@junkemails5050]

Wow!!! Good thing i didn’t use abs, i re done all in pvc sd40 my dwv

[@tonyflick5542]

I always worried about these cleaners messing up the PVC cement.

[@paulpoco22]

Does it react to pipe Teflon tape or pipe dope?

[@RogerWakefield]

🤷🏻‍♂️ but I don’t see when it could ever come in contact with it in a sewer pipe

[@georgecooke9010]

WHAT ABOUT PASSIVATION OF COPPER IN CONCENTRATED H2SO4? CRYSTAL NAOH IS MUCH WORSE REACTIVELY.

[@brendakoldyk1647]

You should see what does to a porcelain tubs. it will eat right down to the metal.

[@BTW...]

Porcelain is NOT used to coat metal tubs. Glass is, known as 'vitreous enamel'. That type of acid will not react with glass. If the enamel coating is flawed with chips or cracks it may reach the steel... but it doesn't cause significant corrosion unless at high concentrations over a long time period.

[@brendakoldyk1647]

@@BTW... I reglaze tubs I had to repair a few damages from that stuff.

[@dancom1550]

Hello Roger newcomer in Canada and am interested in plumbing and heating advice I am not qualified to go through a training institution and the same time don't have money. Will it be a good idea if I look for a plumbing company to pay a company to train me as an apprentice will it help me achieve my goals

[@TroyOnymous]

I etch custom copper circuit boards at home using a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, considering that solution can eat 1.4 mil thick copper off a board in just 15 minutes or so is all the reason I need not to drop it down my copper drain branch lines. Clean clogs correctly, with proper mechanical solutions folks.

[@Metalhammer1993]

the hydrogen peroxide is what really is doing the damage. that'S a mixture called piranha and the name is VERY fitting. Not sure if I want to test it against gold and platinum but yeah it's going through copper, while sulfuric acid, can't and oxidizing acids like Nitric can only under certain circumstances. But that is a reaction that needs sulfuric acid AND Hydrogen peroxide. Sulfuric alone can't hurt copper.

[@CotyRiddle]

loved the stuff wish it was not banned. if used properly it rearely causes issues.

[@PatrickBaptist]

Now Rogers is a chemist hahaha

[@Metalhammer1993]

honestly I would grab sulfuric acid over what is used here in germany: sodium hydroxide. it's literally blowing up the shit in the pipe. (well not literally, but it creates steam by settling behind the clogg, dissolve in water, generate tons of heat dissolving, until the water around the solid NaOH turns to steam and creates pressure. Sure there also is some chemical reaction between fatss and the lye (NaOH-solution) creating soap reducing the friction between the clogging material and the pipe, but a lot of it, is just a brutal steam cleaning of the pipe. And yes it CAN blow up a toilet). But yeah, there are milder drain cleaners, that do not involve superheating the water in your toilet via their enthalpy of dissolution. And yes Sulfuric acid works exactly that way as well. not surprised it did n't hrt copper though. Copper does not react directly with that type of acid. You would think Sulfuric acid would be an oxidizing acid, but surprisingly the sulfur is really stable in the +6 state it is in and not a good oxidzier at all, so Sulfuric acid is purely a proton donator, meaning any metal that can oxidize hydrogen, like copper, is immune to it. (those metals are called Noble metals. and every metal you think of, hearing that term is in that group) That still dissolving pipe was wild though. I honestly do not even have an idea what happened there, except for it being a reversible reaction that released water. So throwing it into water essentially released a ton of sulfuric acid from the rubber, which then under releasing a ton of heat dissolved in the water. I'm surprised though, that the iiron survived at all. don't know if iron sulfates can form a protective layer, but I can tell you one thing with water going through there, the iron fittings are going to die FAST and they'll be a straight up environmental problem

[@Berserkmann]

say if they was to put vinegar down the drain afterwards they would make peracetic acid which only 1.3 PPM is fatal

[@douglastaylor43]

No old clay pipe? That's what I still have in my old home

[@danp6101]

you forgot to do a piece of lead pipe .where I live there still homes that some lead drain pipes

[@mikeg567]

Imagine 20 feet of cast iron with that in it then a 45 or a 90 clog city

[@choccolocco]

ABS was in thousands of mobile homes….still is. Surprising, but not surprising.

[@joshcowart2446]

Since when is sulfuric acid banned? I use clobber regularly. Chemicals aren’t ideal but sometimes they’re necessary. I’ve had grease clogs that would just close up when I pull my snake out. I’ll use clobber. Then run the snake again and it opens right up. You have to make sure and clean your cable. I use muriatic acid for urinals all the time. Caustic soda is great for kitchen sink as well Now there’s a proper way to use them. This test doesn’t quite compare. Sure it can sit in a belly but just like a p trap as you add water, the acid will push out of the belly. Secondly you’re adding it to water which neutralizes acid. So there’s difference between a pipe soaked in undiluted acid and a little bit of acid added to a pipe full of water. You do need to be careful though. I had a total wine store with an island sink in the middle clogged. They weren’t supposed to pour wine down it but of course they did. There’s this bacteria in wine that looks like slime from ghostbusters. This line was full of it. My cable would get clogged with it then it was so slippery akd stringy I couldn’t get it off. Also the line was probably 150’ and the cleanout either didn’t exist or was covered by shelving. Sulfuric acid would eat this stuff up. I had to soak my tips in it to clean them. I eventually poured it down the drain, let it set for several hours then jetted it. I had my tips soaking in some clobber in a small bucket. I accidentally hit it with my foot and splashed on the back of the pants. I could wipe the rubber off the back of my boot with my finger. It made my sock threadbare and didn’t feel real good on the skin. So be careful.

[@RogerWakefield]

I never said sulfuric acid was banned...the stopped selling this brand of it...working with any chemicals is dangerous, always wear the proper PPE and let someone know if you've dumped chemicals down the drain before you start working on it...thanks for sharing

[@joshcowart2446]

@@RogerWakefield agree. I misunderstood. I thought you said they banned this and you’re using sulfuric acid. Since banning one brand didn’t make sense to me, I extrapolated.

[@BTW...]

Water does NOT "neutralize acid"... it dilutes. Hydrochloric acid (= muriatic ) will strip all zinc galvanizing or electroplating off far quicker than sulphuric acid. This product has been banned due to the high concentration, and the fact it eats flesh and has been used in violent attacks on people.

[@joshcowart2446]

@@BTW... i bet you’re the guy who says “well akshually it’s solvent welding not gluing” In chemistry you’re right. In plumbing it’s semantics. It makes it less acidic. Whatever word you want to use, it doesn’t matter. People know what I mean. If a chemist is offended, they’ll get over it. As for muriatic acid or hydrochloric acid (again either works) I don’t care about electroplating because I’m not pouring it anything like that. There may be the rare galvanized nipple used on old urinals but constantly having urine run through it likely makes this irrelevant. Even if it does, you flush it properly. Also if you dilute it in the proper ratios you can use it on potable water. Like I said before it’s all about know what you’re doing. In the end it’s a free country. If you don’t like acid, don’t use it. I’ll keep using whatever I think works best to get the job done.

[@dougkyle685]

Copper and sulfuric acid makes copper sulphate, sulphur dioxide and water

[@junkemails5050]

Walmart sells it, is where i first saw in your other video

[@brendakoldyk1647]

The best drain cleaner I used is Thrift with boiling water. If this doesn't work you have to use a snake to clean it out.

[@tomk7815]

I once spilled some lemonade on my shirt, and it Galvanized my black nipple.

[@Mike-rm7vf]

If they don’t sell anymore. It works the best 😂

[@NvTwist]

The pipes are “WARM” due to the sulfuric acid exothermic reaction with contact with water

[@RogerWakefield]

Didn't think about this...thanks for sharing

[@NvTwist]

@@RogerWakefield no worries, thanks for doing the test & sharing the results.

[@DontLookBehindYou1]

Lol...Clobber was the old go to

[@wanderingweh405]

I just ordered a bottle from walmart and now I'm afraid to use it

[@RogerWakefield]

You found it at Walmart? We had a hard time finding any..

[@wanderingweh405]

@@RogerWakefield ordered it from the website now it's sitting on the table I'm unsure if I should use it.

[@RogerWakefield]

Do you know where you are having problems?

[@wanderingweh405]

@RogerWakefield the shower drain is slow idk any more than that

[@rhock1979]

Might be interested to see what other 'drain cleaners' does to pipes over time, most important when you get belly in them. Plus over this side of the great pond you can get Sulphric Acid drain cleaner called Blockbuster. You could be able to get over that side of the pond, it is made by Jennychem. Also it be interesting to see also which is best from the cheapest you can get from shops (including supermarket own brands), to the most expensive one you can buy in shops to the only one who can buy is is qualified plumper. Also do test which does the better job with cleaning blocked drains, from using a plunger to expensive/qualified plumber only can get drain cleaner

[@RogerWakefield]

We've tested Drano and CocaCola and now KleenOut are there are specific drain cleaners you think we should try?

[@Volkovic7013]

Sulfuric Acid will not burn through plastics but will dissolve metals. Thank you Breaking Bad

[@RogerWakefield]

yeah science!

[@Volkovic7013]

@@RogerWakefield Layup and the dunk!

[@johnhermanson5249]

After you handle those things, try not to touch your glasses (which you did once) Please be careful.

[@justin4n6]

Be mindful of touching stuff that has been soaked in the chemicals and then adjusting your safety glasses.

[@syntaxerorr]

Warm after 30 days? Doubt.

[@robv_v]

Damn

[@christianmillhollon4481]

I think you should be telling us that abs pipe is garbage pipe, all other pipes are good

[@Petrochemtester]

Good grief - is this guy for real? A chemical reaction creating heat would never span the duration of 30 days. Get real - if this was true, we could heat our homes with a little copper pipe and sulfuric acid.

[@philh8829]

PAHYP