My neighbor told me to just pour bleach down the drain for a clog

Last week my neighbor Bob swore dumping a whole bottle of bleach would clear my kitchen sink clog... ended up with bleach fumes filling the whole house and the drain still backed up. Had to snake it myself the next morning anyway. Has anyone else gotten bad plumbing advice from someone who's never touched a pipe wrench?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery_lopez2mo ago

I read that bleach actually corrodes pipes so you're just asking for bigger problems.

-1

butler.finley1mo ago

And you're definitely onto something there @emery_lopez... I've seen what happens when people dump straight bleach down older drains, especially those cast iron pipes. The corrosion isn't instant but over time it eats away at the inside layer and then you're looking at leaks or worse, a collapsed pipe. If you're dead set on using bleach for smell or mold, you gotta flush it with a ton of water afterward and never let it sit... I always just stick with a good enzymatic cleaner for drains, it's way safer for the whole system long term.

masonm702mo ago

And you're spot on, bleach is rough on old metal pipes for sure.