Does Pouring Boiling Water Down The Drain Really Unclog A Kitchen Sink? - Tasting Table

"When a kitchen sink starts the dreaded slow-drain slog, it's tempting to grab some boiling water and scald away the blockage. That can work in certain scenarios, such as loosening light grease - but you may get more than you bargained for. Modern plumbing materials, including PVC or PEX plastic pipes, aren't designed for high heat, so boiling water can soften, warp, or weaken pipes at connection points while it winds its way through - if it even gets that far."

"It's true that boiling water, when poured slowly, can dissolve certain types of fats and loosen organic buildup, so it's not completely taboo if your pipes are made from sturdy materials. That means mainly metal pipes, which can handle the high temperatures of boiling water. Even with metal pipes, however, boiling water is unlikely to sufficiently dissolve things like clumps of hair, mineral buildup, or thick grease and fats. And if metal plumbing pipes are older, as many are these days, super-hot boiling water can damage the weakened, aging structural components."

"For unclogging drains without boiling water, three primary solutions exist. First is the standby approach of harsh chemical drain cleaners, which definitely work, though at a potentially high cost. While dissolving hair, grease, and just about anything causing the blockage, the aggressive caustic chemicals generate heat that can corrode metal pipes, warp PVC ones, dam"

Boiling water can dissolve some fats and loosen organic buildup when poured slowly, and metal pipes can often withstand the temperature. Modern plastic plumbing such as PVC and PEX is not designed for high heat, and boiling water can soften, warp, or weaken pipes and connection points. Boiling water often fails to remove clumps of hair, mineral buildup, or thick grease, and can push blockages further down the system. Chemical drain cleaners dissolve many clogs but generate heat that can corrode metal pipes and warp PVC, introducing additional risks and costs.

Read at Tasting Table