The potent chemicals in Drano, like sodium nitrate, lye, salt, bleach, and aluminum, are highly effective against clogs but can also be detrimental to your pipes. Knowing how to use this household cleaner, including how long to flush Drano with hot water, is essential.
Flush Drano with hot water for 5 to 15 minutes to remove residue that could have been left behind after the cleaner disintegrates the clog. Do this after pouring Drano into the drain and letting it act against the clog for 15 to 30 minutes.
Is flushing Drano with hot water necessary, or will cold water do? Keep reading for the answer and details on how to use Drano.
How Long To Flush Drano With Hot Water?
As stated above, flush Drano using hot water for 5 to 15 minutes. You can also loosen the clogs using a plunger before pouring the hot water to aid the water in clearing the clogs.
Once you flush out Drano using hot water, prevent future clogs and cool the pipes by pouring cold water down the drain. Drano is safe for unclogging different areas, including laundry sinks, garbage disposals, and kitchen and bathroom drains, provided you use it moderately and correctly.
Here’s how to use Drano:
- Open the Drano bottle by gently pushing down the childproof cap using your palm, then turning it counterclockwise
- Slowly pour half of a 32-ounce Drano bottle into the drain to fix slow-draining or clogged drains. Pour the entire bottle if you are dealing with severe clogs
- Let Drano sit inside your drain for 15 minutes to clear light clogs and up to 30 minutes for tough clogs
- Flush the drain using hot water for 5 to 15 minutes, then pour cold water
- Repeat the application if needed
Some chemical reactions occur when you pour Drano down the drain to clear clogs. For instance, the physical matter stuck in your pipes is decomposed by lye.
Next, the exothermic reaction between aluminum and lye causes the temperatures in the pipes to reach boiling point, accelerating the decomposition of the clog. Finally, the soapy substance produced by the lye dissolves the clog making sufficient room for the water to clear it.
Some Drano formulations like Drano Max Gel have extra ingredients like a thickener. The thickener lets Drano cling to the clog providing the other chemicals sufficient time to disintegrate the blockage.
Drano Max Gel Clog Remover (View on Amazon) is designed to handle clogs quickly, producing results in 7 minutes. You can also leave it inside your drains overnight.
Is Flushing Drano With Hot Water Necessary?
S.C. Johnson & Son, Drano’s manufacturer, recommends flushing Drano using hot water. However, it does not mention that cold water will not work, so you may get away with washing Drano out of your drains using cold water.
However, cold water is less effective in removing Drano than hot water. Nonetheless, using cold water is better than not washing away Drano from your drains.
However, since boiling water is easily accessible, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the sake of your pipes.
Why Is Rinsing Away Drano Necessary?
Rinsing Drano out of your pipes is vital because this cleaner contains potent chemicals that can damage pipes, plastic and metallic. This is also why using Drano regularly isn’t recommended.
Since Drano is a caustic substance, it can corrode your pipes if left there for an extended period. The acidic nature of Drano comes in handy when breaking down materials that are clogging your drains, but this isn’t good for your pipes.
Corroded pipes are more susceptible to clogging and leak and leech toxic chemicals to water bodies. While it’s acceptable to exceed the amount of time Drano is meant to sit on your drains a bit, do not stretch it too long.
It’s highly unlikely that anything bad will happen to your pipes if you forget to wash out Drano after pouring it into your drains. However, do not develop a habit of doing so, especially if you tend to use Drano to get rid of stubborn clogs.
It’s normal to forget things sometimes, so it is understandable if you forget to flush Drano. However, pour hot water down the drain once you remember because chances are the chemicals may not have done any harm to your pipes during that duration but waiting longer could cause damage.
Generally, avoid leaving Drano sitting in your drains longer than 12 hours.
Is it Safe To Pour Drano Into Stagnant Water?
Standing water and Drano do not mix very well since they can lead to the production of hydrochloric acid, which is explosive. Inhaling this chemical can cause severe injuries to you and your animals.
Therefore, just pour Drano into the drain, followed by hot water, after 15 to 30 minutes.
Can Drano Make a Clog Worse?
Drano can make an obstruction in your drain worse, but that depends on what’s causing the clog. While this drain cleaner easily breaks organic matter such as hair and grease, it may have a hard time dealing with some things.
For example, Drano can make the clog worse if caused by inorganic substances such as a broken pipe. This is because the chemicals in Drano will create a corrosive reaction. So in such a case, deal with the clog using other means like a snake or seek plumbing services.
In addition, using Drano to handle clogs close to your home’s main drainpipe or one stuck in a fragile old pipe isn’t wise. This is because Drano can damage the pipe or push the obstruction deeper, worsening the problem.
When the clog travels further down the pipes, dealing with it becomes pricier, time-consuming, and more complicated. Therefore, try unclogging your drains using a plunger or natural remedies such as boiling water before opting for chemicals.
Final Thoughts on How Long To Flush Drano With Hot Water
While Drano helps you deal with unpleasant clogs, you must exercise caution when handling this cleaner. For instance, flush hot water down the drain for 5 to 15 minutes after using Drano.
Despite being effective in eliminating clogs, don’t make Drano your go-to technique for taking care of clogs for the sake of your pipes.
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