Can Drano damage my pipes if left in too long? I had a sink clog and poured down some drano. I forgot to flush it out until 6 hours later. Should my pipes be ok? Drano's website says it can't damage pipes.

You'll be fine. How old is your house? This one is from '77 and I have had no issues.

cz308 said:

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You'll be fine. How old is your house? This one is from '77 and I have had no issues.

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My house is about 10 years old.

I would think you're good since a 10 year old house will have pvc plastic pipes and the drano bottle is plastic.

Today's Drano is not nearly as potent as it was 50 years ago - thanks to environmentalists... Straight Lye used to be used - Drano started out as a nice name for lye. Plastic piping - especially schedule 40 - will last "forever" regardless of what you pass through them short of standing 100 acids or nuc waste. Joints will give way before the pipe.

Aggie1 said:

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Today's Drano is not nearly as potent as it was 50 years ago - thanks to environmentalists... Straight Lye used to be used - Drano started out as a nice name for lye. Plastic piping - especially schedule 40 - will last "forever" regardless of what you pass through them short of standing 100 acids or nuc waste. Joints will give way before the pipe.

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Not all plastics are created equal. PVC is vulnerable vs a few chemicals (listed here ) including acetone, butyric acid, iodine, etc. However, it's fine vs full strength lye (potassium hydroxide).

On the other hand, PEX is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE). That's got an entirely different set of vulnerabilities (here). Gasoline and carborator cleaner will eat through it quickly. Lye won't hurt that either.

Drano can absolutely destroy copper and galvanized steel pipes. So, if your house was built pre-1970's, watch out. Fortunately, plumbers (and building codes too) figured all this out 50+ years ago. Your 2008 build will be fine.

Ornlu said:

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Aggie1 said:

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Today's Drano is not nearly as potent as it was 50 years ago - thanks to environmentalists... Straight Lye used to be used - Drano started out as a nice name for lye. Plastic piping - especially schedule 40 - will last "forever" regardless of what you pass through them short of standing 100 acids or nuc waste. Joints will give way before the pipe.

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Not all plastics are created equal. PVC is vulnerable vs a few chemicals (listed here ) including acetone, butyric acid, iodine, etc. However, it's fine vs full strength lye (potassium hydroxide).

On the other hand, PEX is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE). That's got an entirely different set of vulnerabilities (here). Gasoline and carborator cleaner will eat through it quickly. Lye won't hurt that either.

Drano can absolutely destroy copper and galvanized steel pipes. So, if your house was built pre-1970's, watch out. Fortunately, plumbers (and building codes too) figured all this out 50+ years ago. Your 2008 build will be fine.

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Thank you!