
Will Boiling Water Damage PVC Pipes? The general rule of thumb is that hot boiling water can soften or even slightly melt the joints in your PVC pipes
Plastic pipework
Plastic pipework is used for the conveyance of drinking water, waste water, chemicals, heating fluid and cooling fluids, foodstuffs, ultra-pure liquids, slurries, gases, compressed air and vacuum system applications.
Is boiling water bad for PVC pipes?
The general rule of thumb is that hot boiling water can soften or even slightly melt the joints in your PVC pipes so YES, if you subject these types of pipes to high temperature water on a regular basis - they can be damaged, causing leaks and eventually requiring replacement.
Can you clean PVC pipe with hot water?
However, it is important to know that PVC pipes melt at 176 degrees F. Therefore, avoid cleaning your PVC drainpipes with hot water because it may cause the pipes to melt or soften.
Can You boil water in a pipe?
Know that boiling water is 212° F so any pipe (or sink for that matter) that cannot tolerate that temperature will not be able to stand up to being subjected to the high temperatures of boiling liquid. So, let's go through a list of materials your water pipes could be constructed out of. What Are Water Pipes Made Of?
Why do drain cleaners melt PVC pipes?
Chemicals contained in drain cleaners can be corrosive, but what really causes PVC pipes to melt or soften is the heat produced by the chemical reactions. Most people worsen the problem by using more than one product to clean their drainpipes. Hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid generate heat when mixed with water.

Can PVC handle hot water?
The short answer: No. Explanation: PVC is a thermoplastic, and therefore, at some point it will begin to degrade and break down as it's heated up. It just so happens that Schedule 40 PVC's maximum operating temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit, around the same temperature that hot water gets to in most homes.
Can you soften PVC pipe with boiling water?
Here are the steps you can follow to bend a PVC pipe with boiling water. Boil a kettle of water until steam starts coming out. Put one end of the pipe on to the kettle's spout, so the steam goes directly through the pipe. Leave it for about five minutes, then slowly bend the pipe into the desired shape.
At what temp does PVC pipe melt?
212 - 500 °FWhat are the properties of Polyvinyl Chloride?PropertyValueMelt Temperature212 - 500 °F (100 - 260°C) ***Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)92 °C (198 °F) **Tensile StrengthFlexible PVC: 6.9 - 25 MPa (1000 - 3625 PSI) Rigid PVC: 34 - 62 MPa (4930 - 9000 PSI) **Specific Gravity1.35 - 1.452 more rows•Jul 6, 2016
Can PVC pipes melt?
PVC Pipe Melting Point PVC melts at around 176 F. The fine line is that somewhere around 170 F is the temperature for making long radius bends in the pipe. Tighter bends can be made but will be at the melting temperature.
What melts PVC pipe?
Oxidizers, acids, and caustics are examples of drain cleaners that can cause PVC pipes to melt or become soft. Sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are the active ingredients of acid cleaners. Oxidizers normally have sodium hypochlorite while acidic drain cleaners usually contain sodium hydroxide or lye.
What dissolves PVC pipe?
The drain cleaners that soften PVC pipes are oxidizers, caustics, and acids. Acid cleaners have either hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid as their active ingredients. Oxidizers have sodium hypochlorite as their active ingredient whereas caustic cleaners come with sodium hydroxide as their active ingredient.
How much heat can a PVC pipe take?
140°F.Maximum operating temperature for PVC is 140°F. Exceeding the maximum operating temperature could cause system failure and/or property damage.
Is it OK to pour boiling water down the kitchen sink?
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
Is melted PVC toxic?
When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.
Does steam melt PVC?
PVC won't melt at low pressure steam temperatures.
What type of pipe is best for hot water?
CPVC pipes are an ideal choice for hot water plumbing. They are made after adding material that goes through extra chlorination process which gives CPVC higher quality.
Does PVC pipe shrink when heated?
Like all materials, PVC expands with increasing temperatures and contracts with decreasing temperatures.
How do you soften PVC pipes?
Use a hair dryer to heat up a spot on the PVC pipe and slowly apply pressure on the area you want to bend. Once you've made a bend to the desired angle you can remove the auger. This technique is ideal for maneuvering PVC around corners and over other pipes, while remaining flush to the wall.
How do you soften flexible PVC pipe?
0:432:07How to bend hot tub pvc pipe - "flexible" pipe is not that flexible!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo i've taken the section of pipe and i've taken it over to the kitchen i've boiled some water in aMoreSo i've taken the section of pipe and i've taken it over to the kitchen i've boiled some water in a pan. And i'm actually using the steam and the heat off the water to soften up the pipe.
How do you soften plastic tubing?
0:211:44How to Straighten Vinyl Tubing - Fast! Making Rigid and Coiled ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipQuickly is to boil it in water using tongs place the tubing in boiling. Water. Leave in a gentleMoreQuickly is to boil it in water using tongs place the tubing in boiling. Water. Leave in a gentle boil for approximately. One minute this relaxes the vinyl making the tubing flexible.
How do you heat PVC pipe to bend?
0:248:24How to Bend PVC Pipe With No Tools - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd stuff like that for your PVC pipe you can use one of these methods to simply bend your pipe toMoreAnd stuff like that for your PVC pipe you can use one of these methods to simply bend your pipe to go around any obstacles that you're running into. So without further delay let's begin the first
Who said "a pot of boiling water"?
Dave Balkan: You know, a pot of boiling water. It’s just the water, you already took your food out of it.
Is PVC piping metallic?
Dave Balkan: That’s a great question. Well, usually it’s visually clearly apparent because it’s plastic. It’s usually white, and it’s not a metallic color. PVC or plastic piping is not colored like any metal. So even if you’re just a regular homeowner that doesn’t know plumbing, you’ll know if it’s PVC or not.
Can you pour boiling water down a drain?
Dave Balkan: Let me say it’s a trick answer really. In modern houses some of the drain pipes are PVC plastic, and usually the boiling water will just flow through it without causing any damage.But if it goes through the pipe slowly the PVC could the deform. But if you don’t have PVC drain pipes, you could pour boiling water right down that drain and it will never harm the plumbing in any way whatsoever. That’s that’s a good tip out there. Because some people are pouring boiling, hot water, and running the cold water, letting it cool off, etc.Unless you have drains made from PVC, there’s no reason to do that. Dump it, dump that boiling water down the drain.
What temperature does PVC pipe melt?
However, it is important to know that PVC pipes melt at 176 degrees F.
What causes PVC pipes to melt?
Oxidizers, acids, and caustics are examples of drain cleaners that can cause PVC pipes to melt or become soft. Sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are the active ingredients of acid cleaners. Oxidizers normally have sodium hypochlorite while acidic drain cleaners usually contain sodium hydroxide or lye.
What chemical reaction causes PVC pipes to melt?
Chemicals contained in drain cleaners can be corrosive, but what really causes PVC pipes to melt or soften is the heat produced by the chemical reactions.
Can you mix sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid?
Most people worsen the problem by using more than one product to clean their drainpipes. Hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid generate heat when mixed with water. Our trained experts know how to safely mix chemical cleaners and dilute them to minimize their effects on drainpipes.
Can you use caustic soda on PVC pipes?
Chemicals in chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite do not cause PVC pipes to soften or melt. This means that oxidizers and caustic soda can be used as drain cleaners without damaging your drainpipes. However, oxidizers can react with materials blocking your drainpipes when they come in contact.
Can oxidizers eat up drain pipes?
However, oxidizers can react with materials blocking your drainpipes when they come in contact. Enzymatic drain cleaners contain living organisms that can eat up all the materials blocking your drainpipe. Oxnard Plumbing and Rooter Pros has been providing drain cleaning services to residents of Oxnard for many years.
What is a plumber's snake?
This is an adjustable tool used for drilling and is also called a plumber’s snake. You can use its hand to transmit a metal wire into the drain to pull the clog or break them down. You can also buy a disposable model made of plastic.
How to keep food debris from settling in drain?
Go on to pour them on the drain frequently and then proceed with pouring hot water mainly for the metallic pipes. And after brushing and having toothpaste down a drain, you can leave the tap running for a few minutes. You can also do this for food debris as this will prevent it from settling around the drain surface.
Can You Pour Boiling Water Down the Shower Drain?
You can pour boiling water down the shower drain only if the pipes are made of metal. The water temperature will help to dissolve the substances blocking the drain. For instance the gunk.
What to do if you can't clear drain?
And if you cannot clear your drain, you will need an automatic drain cleaner. This will go down, reach the clog, remove it, and drag it along.
Can you pour water on PVC pipes?
You can only pour the water if your drains are metallic since you cannot pour the water on PVC pipes. It can melt PVC or even soften them, causing more damage to your pipes. However, if the drain gets clogged with the ice cubes, the water can help to unclog the drain.
Does hot water melt grease?
Very hot water can melt grease making it move down the drain and even stick on the sides of the pipe. Clog then goes on to build up and pouring more hot water can lead to it going deeper. At times, the water can cool before it reaches the clog, and it will remain there.
Does hot water help a clogged drain?
Having hot water in your drains doesn’t mean it will remove the clog. At times the sewer system may need service if debris got in it. Thus, pouring hot water will not help out as it only pushes clogs farther.
Can porcelain sinks crack?
Another note to mention is that if your sink is porcelain - you may want to reconsider the boiling water idea. Hot water can cause minor cracks in anything made out of some form of china (sinks, toilets, tubs, etc.).
Does boiling water damage PVC pipes?
Will Boiling Water Damage PVC Pipes? The general rule of thumb is that hot boiling water can soften or even slightly melt the joints in your PVC pipes so YES, if you subject these types of pipes to high temperature water on a regular basis - they can be damaged, causing leaks and eventually requiring replacement .
Can you pour boiling water down a sink drain?
is: If your water pipes are made of Pex, CPVC or PVC - they are NOT made to withstand the temperature of hot, boiling water. If your water pipes are made out of Iron, Copper or Galvanized Steel - you certainly can run very hot water through them but if there are any rubber ...
Does Boiling Water Unclog Drains?
Honestly, you would have to use gallons of boiling water to unclog a drain. It may end up damaging your pipes before you can loosen up that clog.
