Plumbers need to know this so they don't get burned when they remove your pipes. They have industrial augers (snakes) that will physically pull out whatever is blocking the pipe—something chemicals cannot do.
But what happens when the magic doesn’t work? Worse, what happens when the caustic soda seems to have made the blockage worse ? You now have a drain blocked with caustic soda—a dangerous, chemical-filled standstill.
Put on rubber gloves (dish gloves are fine), safety goggles (not just glasses), and old long sleeves. Caustic soda burns are no joke. drain blocked with caustic soda
Have you ever had a chemical drain cleaner disaster? Tell us about it in the comments below.
If the water is just sitting there, you need to lower the pH before you can work. Very slowly add white vinegar or citric acid to the standing water (roughly 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water). It will fizz. Wait 10 minutes. This neutralizes the caustic soda into a salty water solution. Plumbers need to know this so they don't
Use a small cup or a wet/dry vacuum ( rated for liquids ) to remove the neutralized water. Dispose of it down the toilet (lots of flushing water) or outside away from pets.
Stay safe, neutralize first, then snake it out. Your pipes (and your skin) will thank you. Worse, what happens when the caustic soda seems
Help! I’ve Blocked My Drain with Caustic Soda – Now What?