Inhaling carcinogenic toxins through toilet pipes?

There are many types of kitchen water pipe unclogging agents, which can be mainly divided into two categories: "high temperature type" and "non-high temperature type". The common "non-high temperature" water pipe dredging agent mainly uses enzymes or microorganisms to decompose the oily dirt in the pipe. The reaction is mild and suitable for daily maintenance of the pipeline; while the "high temperature" water pipe dredging agent releases high temperature and saponification reaction to remove the accumulation in the water pipe. When the product is used, it will produce a violent chemical reaction and release high temperature above 90°C. The following video experiment is suitable for emergency repair and dredging when the water pipe is blocked.

The above are three common "high temperature" water pipe dredging agents. After mixing with tap water, the average temperature of the mixture reaches 90°C! Most of these dredging agents contain chemical "strong bases", which are corrosive and should be ventilated, gloves, and masks when used.

Why can "high temperature" clear the blockage of kitchen pipelines? This must start from the culprit of the water pipe failure - "grease". The grease accumulated in the kitchen pipeline for a long time will become solid grease after air oxidation, that is, oil lumps, which will stick to the pipe wall. As shown in the photo below, the black is the old oil block, and the white is the new oil block. The grease is accumulated in the pipe wall layer by layer, and the water pipe will be blocked after a long time.

The main component of "high temperature" water pipe dredging agent is granular "sodium hydroxide" (NaOH), also known as "caustic soda", which is a chemically strong alkali and is corrosive. When this type of dredge is poured into the water pipe and mixed with water, a "high temperature reaction (exothermic)" will occur, resulting in a high temperature of more than 90°C, and the high temperature can "temporarily" melt the solid grease attached to the pipe into liquid grease, followed by Sodium hydroxide will have a "saponification reaction" with the liquid grease, further turning the liquid grease into soap, preventing the liquid grease from turning back to solid grease after the temperature of the water pipe drops. The reaction is as follows:

(1) High temperature reaction: hardened grease + 90°C high temperature --> liquid grease
(2) Saponification reaction: liquid oil + sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) --> soap + glycerin

In order to remind consumers of the problems caused by "strong alkaline and high temperature", the "high temperature" water pipe dredging agent will be specially stated in the precautions: Do not use this product for soft plastic wave pipes/water pipes, such as: bathtub drain pipes, washing machines Drain pipes, some kitchen counters/sinks, soft plastic wave pipes, toilets, French water pipes, rubber pipes and aluminum water pipes.

Most of the drain pipes under the dishwasher at home are "soft plastic water pipes" (hereinafter referred to as: hoses), and many water pipes are blocked first at the bend of the hose, but because the hose is very heat-resistant, so When the dredge produces a high temperature at the blocked hose, the water pipe will be deformed and damaged as shown in the picture below.

At present, the commercially available "high temperature type" water pipe dredging agent (hereinafter referred to as: dredging agent) mainly uses "strong alkali" + "high temperature" to unclog pipes. Its advantages are that it can quickly dissolve grease and restore pipeline water flow. In addition to the deformation of the hose, if it is used frequently, the following two serious side effects may occur:

Side effects (1): When the household PVC rigid plastic drainage pipe (hereinafter referred to as: PVC rigid pipe) encounters the high temperature of the dredging agent, the bend of the water pipe will soften and deform, and there is a potential water leakage crisis.

Most household sinks will be connected to the "hose" first, and the latter will be connected to the "PVC rigid pipe" (as shown in the figure below). Although PVC rigid pipes are resistant to acid and alkali, many people do not know that PVC rigid pipes are not resistant to high temperature. Generally, the normal operating temperature is below 60°C. When the temperature exceeds 60°C, the PVC rigid pipes will begin to soften, and the rate of softening will increase. Proportional to temperature and time, the hydropower master uses this principle to bake the tube with a gas spray gun to soften and deform it.

In order to simulate the deformation of the PVC hard pipe at high temperature, we put a PVC hard pipe used for household piping in 92°C hot water, soak it for 5 minutes, and then take out the PVC hard pipe. Pressure will deform!

This experiment proves that the PVC hard pipe will be deformed after being soaked in high temperature for 5 minutes. If it is soaked for 15 minutes, the softening and deformation of the pipe will be more serious. However, after the dredging agent and the grease are in contact with the pipe, it takes "15~30 minutes" to complete the reaction. If the water pipe is kept at high temperature for a long time, it will definitely increase the risk of deformation and water leakage!

Side effect (2): The "adhesive" at the bend of the water pipe will be melted at high temperature, and the viscosity will be greatly reduced, which is easy to cause the water pipe to loosen and leak!

Because the PVC rigid pipe is a straight pipeline, the L-shaped PVC rigid pipe will be used for turning at the turning point, and the "hard adhesive" will be used as the bonding glue (as shown in the figure below). However, the adhesive is not resistant to high temperature. The normal operating temperature is room temperature. When the temperature exceeds 60°C, the "hard adhesive" will reduce its viscosity and even lose its gluing function, which is called "degumming" phenomenon. In order to maintain the normal function of the adhesive, the precautions for this product will specifically state "please place it in a shaded place".

The most likely place for household water pipes to be blocked is the bend of the water pipe. If the dredging agent is often used to generate high temperature in the water pipe, the adhesive at the bend of the pipeline is likely to be damaged, causing problems such as loosening and leakage of the water pipe at the joint.

When the water pipe is blocked, if you often feed the kitchen water pipe to drink "high temperature" water pipe dredging agent, the water pipe will gradually have problems such as softening, deformation and degumming of the pipeline due to the above two side effects. Or events that are enough to cause the wall to vibrate (ex. electric pipes, decoration, road digging, large trucks passing by, etc.), the water pipe turning connection is likely to be loose or leaking!

Before using the water pipe and toilet unclogging agent, be sure to pay attention to ventilation!

The kitchen water pipes are often drained of oily dirt. Over time, it will condense on the wall of the water pipe, causing the diameter of the water pipe to become narrower and narrower, and the water flow is not easy to pass through, or even completely blocked. Other foreign objects fall into it. In these two situations, you can go to the pharmacy to buy a water pipe or toilet unclogging agent.

The water pipe contains "strong alkali", and the toilet contains "strong acid", which is highly corrosive!

The chemical reaction of dredging agents is very violent and is a high risk in household cleaners. Usually, kitchen pipe unclogging agent is a strong alkaline substance, so as to dissolve stubborn oil stains; while bathroom toilet unclogging agent is a strong acid substance, because the toilet has ammonia and the bathroom has limescale, and the acidic substance is just neutralized. When purchasing, be sure to clarify the purpose of use, in order to buy the correct dredging agent, otherwise it will be invalid.

It should be noted that these two dredging agents must not be mixed together, nor can they be mixed with chlorine-based bleaching water, otherwise toxic chlorine gas will be released. Furthermore, these dredging agents are strong acids and alkalis, which are very corrosive and must not come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes. Too close to inhalation will also cause chemical burns. If exposed to these substances for a long time, they will also cause cancer.

Please keep in mind when operating: after pouring the dredging agent, cover the toilet immediately; if it is a sink, slowly add a little water to let the agent work, then plug the drain hole, then leave the scene and let the agent dissolve slowly Blockage, do not open it frequently to observe, it will inhale harmful substances.

Regularly remove oil from the walls of kitchen water pipes to avoid blockages!

Water pipes can cause blockages. In many cases, there are problems with daily use habits. In some cases, the pipelines in the building are poorly designed or are implicated by neighbors. If it is the latter, if we do not change the design or the neighbors do not deal with the problem, we will not be able to solve the problem, but the state of the former is in our own hands, and we have the ability to change it.

When maintaining water pipes at home, you can use peroxygen bleach or add a little water with high-concentration baking soda every once in a while and let it slowly flow through the drain to remove the oil stains on the pipe wall. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the water pipes can avoid the threat of blockage. The excess grease in the kitchen should not be poured into the drain hole, as the oil will condense and cause blockage when it is cold. The correct way is to put it in a plastic bag, put in a few kitchen towels to absorb the grease, and then seal it up for disposal; if there is a lot of grease, you might as well use it to make soap.

By implementing toilet cleaning on weekdays, you can reduce the chance of using hydrochloric acid!

In order to keep the toilets clean and unobstructed, some schools regularly pour strong acid into the toilets for brushing. This method can indeed wash very cleanly and has the effect of preventing blockages, but it is risky to operate. When hydrochloric acid is poured into the toilets, it will emit Fumes, these fumes are corrosive and should never be inhaled. I think the school should instruct the students to learn how to clean the toilet and clean the toilet. As for the use of strong acid to unclog, this kind of work should be handled by a professional cleaning company, and it is best to use the winter and summer vacations to do it.

In ordinary families, it is often the housewife who handles the dredging agent. Before handling, be sure to inform family members not to approach, especially to ensure that children are kept away; in addition, please open all windows to make the environment as ventilated as possible, users must wear masks and gloves, and leave the scene quickly after pouring the dredging agent, so that To reduce the poison to a minimum.