msquared48
Structural
- Aug 7, 2007
- 14,745
Friend had a clog in the drain line for his kitchen sink and I'm glad he's still here.
He COMBINED, if you can believe it, Draino, Liquid Plumber, and Carbolic Acid in the drain, and it "exploded" to quote it precisely - devevoped a lot of pressure, caustic fumes, and foam.
After sealing up the drain access, he contacted an emergency room doctor. The doctor looked it up (surprises me that they would have that exact combination) and recommended neutralizing the mixture with Vinegar, which he subsequently used. The unknowns are the concentration, and what was in the drain causing the clog.
I wonder what caustic gas might have been generated (I strongly suspect Cyanide gas, and perhaps ammonia, but I'm not sure), and if Vinegar would really be the proper neutralizing agent here. I realize that Draino and Liquid Plumber are strong bases, and that Carbolic acid and vinegar are acids. The chemical results are beyond me though.
The problem now is that the vents cannot be opened too clear the clog until the reaction ceases, hence the need to neutralize properly.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
He COMBINED, if you can believe it, Draino, Liquid Plumber, and Carbolic Acid in the drain, and it "exploded" to quote it precisely - devevoped a lot of pressure, caustic fumes, and foam.
After sealing up the drain access, he contacted an emergency room doctor. The doctor looked it up (surprises me that they would have that exact combination) and recommended neutralizing the mixture with Vinegar, which he subsequently used. The unknowns are the concentration, and what was in the drain causing the clog.
I wonder what caustic gas might have been generated (I strongly suspect Cyanide gas, and perhaps ammonia, but I'm not sure), and if Vinegar would really be the proper neutralizing agent here. I realize that Draino and Liquid Plumber are strong bases, and that Carbolic acid and vinegar are acids. The chemical results are beyond me though.
The problem now is that the vents cannot be opened too clear the clog until the reaction ceases, hence the need to neutralize properly.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
