Deep Clean Your PVC Pipes with These Helpful Tips

Over the years, technology has evolved beyond our wildest dreams. New innovations keep emerging to make our lives just a little bit easier, and to help us on our journey as a species to grow and evolve. While most people would think of the internet and computers when you talk about technological advancements, sometimes, it was a pipe that made all the difference. 

When PVC pipes were first introduced, they changed the plumbing industry. They were so much better than metal ones because they are more resistant to fire, much lighter, safer because they don’t corrode as much as metal, and they are pretty flexible to handle. Cleaning them, on the other hand, might be a bit challenging. 

These tips will help you deep clean your PVC pipes whenever needed.

Removing The Pipes 

If possible, it would be best to remove the pipes so you can work on deep cleaning them. It would make it much easier for you to clean on the inside of the PVC drain if it were temporarily removed from its original position, but if that weren’t possible, you could still do it while the pipe is attached. 

Getting Rid of Grease

The first thing you’ll want to do is get rid of any grease buildup within the pipes. To do that, you’ll need to use clean water. Heat a couple of litres for a couple of minutes, no need to boil, and make sure you let it cool off for a minute or two. Some experts also recommend adding some dishwashing soap into the mix before you turn off the heat. After that, take the water mixed with soap and pour it down the drain, and this will help you remove any grease buildup in your PVC pipes. 

Using a Drain Cleaner  

The first step was removing clogged grease in your PVC pipes, but that is almost never enough. You will also need to use a drain cleaner, but this one can be a bit tricky. You need to get just the right product for cleaning PVC pipes – one of high quality that would not react with the plastic and cause it to wear out or corrode too quickly. You will want to do a little search on the different available options you have in the market, and read up on what other people are saying about each. Reviews are a very important step in choosing the right drain cleaner because other people have similar plumbing systems to yours, so their insight is definitely important. 

After you’ve poured the drain cleaner of choice, you need to flush anything left inside the pipes using hot or warm water. It is worth mentioning that you really should follow all instructions on the cleaner’s packaging to ensure maximum efficiency. Some will need to be left for a while before flushing; others can be flushed immediately. This is why it’s important to know the required usage instructions. You should also never mix two different products at the same time because it might damage your PVC pipe, not to mention create unhealthy fumes.

Unclogging The Pipes  

You will next want to remove any remaining food obstructions or any others that might be stuck in the pipes. For that, you will need to use a plunger. First, submerge the drain if it’s a sink, or make sure it’s surrounded by water so you could create suction, if possible. After doing so, submerge the plunger and make sure there is no air between it and the PVC pipe. Start pushing the plunger up and down to ensure that anything stuck in the pipes will be moved by the immense water pressure. You could next try using a snake to remove anything else that might be stuck in there like hair or any other obstruction.

Other Tips 

Some professionals recommend using peroxide to clean inside a PVC drain, but it might cause some burns as it is pretty powerful, so you should be very careful. And make sure if you can use it or not before/after using the regular drain cleaner. After all is said and done, you might want to add some baking soda and vinegar to the drain, along with hot water, to remove anything else that might’ve lingered on, and get rid of any unfriendly odours. 

It is important that you regularly maintain your PVC pipes by deep cleaning them whenever possible. You can do that by following these steps, but in any case, you have to read up on what experts have to say about this entire process. Use the internet to watch videos and read instructions, so you don’t risk damaging your plumbing.