Drain Unblocker

[jaydebruyne]

I poured some Bullet drain cleaner down a customers kitchen sink today - probably around 100ml - and it erupted like a volcano and discoloured the metallic sink :/

Is there anyway to combat this?

 

[kris]

RUN as fast as you can in opposite direction Jay lol

Not sure mate ,

 

[jaydebruyne]

RUN as fast as you can in opposite direction Jay lol

Not sure mate ,

Hahaha noted!!!

It's fine on the ceramic sinks but ruins the metallic ones.

Just wondered if anyone else has encountered the same issue?

 

[Dotty]

Yeah. you only ever do it once........

 

[PETE 123]

It looks like its stained for good (its strong stuff)
some advice when using this stuff or any drain cleaner make sure you can tell any one below in same house or flat below what you are doing as if it leaks out of pipe and comes through ceiling it could burn / injure persons or even a child or worse a baby.

 

[kris]

I mean the sinks marked Jay but you could try turps or some cleaners as you wont make it worse , second that it might, the good thing is the stainless sinks arent expensive,

 

[jaydebruyne]

I might stick to oneshot - I used it on my sink at home and it didn't explode like this.. Like Croppie said, I'll only do it once

 

[Rickster123]

Pop the washing up bowl back in there, collect your cash and walk quickly back to van. Never look back!

 

[rpm]

Bet you a pound to a penny that the customer didn`t tell you or denied putting another chemical down before you did mate. That`s 2 chemicals reacting!

 

[jaydebruyne]

Bet you a pound to a penny that the customer didn`t tell you or denied putting another chemical down before you did mate. That`s 2 chemicals reacting!

You know, I didn't even think of that!!! It's a good possibility

 

[rpm]

Can`t remember when but a housewife once suffered burns to her face by trying a different unblocker when the first one didn`t work since I read that I always ask first. I`ve had latex gloves melt before and that`s when I get really narked with the customer.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Can`t remember when but a housewife once suffered burns to her face by trying a different unblocker when the first one didn`t work since I read that I always ask first. I`ve had latex gloves melt before and that`s when I get really narked with the customer.

I'll be asking from now on!! Cheers RPM

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Never used chemicals and every time I see a thread like this I'm glad.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Never used chemicals and every time I see a thread like this I'm glad.

Do you use a snake or rod or something?

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

I've got a snake I use and drain rods but never really had a bad blockage, worst ones I deal with is urinals and they are cut out and either replace new or bang on floor inside a bin bag and replace old.

 

[Neil K]

Bet you a pound to a penny that the customer didn`t tell you or denied putting another chemical down before you did mate. That`s 2 chemicals reacting!

Thats your get out of jail card

 

[PhoenixServices]

I once evacuated a block of 100 flats by putting an industrial unblocked on top of something else without realising. Fire brigade, ambulance and police. Didn't help that when I turned my back to get the wet vac the cleaner stuck his bare hand in it, after being told not to.

 

[rpm]

Wicked!

 

[Dannypipe]

I got called to clean a blocked sink out once. They were posh and had an permanent onsite handy man. He had poured god knows what down the sink. I turned up. Traced blocked sink out to external gulley, which was full of grey water. I said to the handyman. I bet the grill under that grey water is blocked up. It will need removing.

So as quick as that he dropped to the floor and stuck his whole arm down the gulley and came up with a load of crud. (can't remember what it was - lamps fat or something). The water subsided and the block was gone, but the bloke just started saying, my arm is on fire, my arm is on fire. The idiot had put a load or chemicals in the sink, all makes and mixes, and then put his arm in the very same water. I left him to it. Idiot. He probably lost the arm and now just has a claw/talon.

 

[jaydebruyne]

I once evacuated a block of 100 flats by putting an industrial unblocked on top of something else without realising. Fire brigade, ambulance and police. Didn't help that when I turned my back to get the wet vac the cleaner stuck his bare hand in it, after being told not to.

That's impressive!!!!

 

[Cello]

You could try polishing the "stain" out using automotive metal polish such as "Autosol". Most probably the "stain" isn't a stain at all but a slight etching of the surface and that is why you cannot dissolve it off. A metal polish is a very mild abrasive and will erode the etching and (hopefully) leave a shiny surface. Might be worth a go and would be interested to know if it solves the problem.

 

[Cello]

Just looked up the safety data sheet for Bullit Drain Cleaner and, apparently it is 96% sulphuric acid. Being so, it would react very violently with a caustic drain cleaner and produce enough heat to easily boil the water. As advised by other contributors, find out what the customer put down the sink.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Just looked up the safety data sheet for Bullit Drain Cleaner and, apparently it is 96% sulphuric acid. Being so, it would react very violently with a caustic drain cleaner and produce enough heat to easily boil the water. As advised by other contributors, find out what the customer put down the sink.

Same as Onesgot then. The tennant wasn't in as had to collect keys from the managing agents so unfortunately we had to work blind.

 

[Cello]

I hope you had your safety specs of or you could have been blinded - a good reminder to do so when working with chemicals. Good job it was not chlorine bleach or the air would have gone green and you to A&E!

 

[Millsy 82]

All of these chemicals should be BANNED!!!!!!!!!!!

I once cut into a waste pipe after asking if they put anything down the drain they said no. I got the water all over my hand as you do and it started burning like mad. I knew straight away what it was and went mad at the person saying what have you put down it! they then confessed they had used something (If I can remember correctly it was oneshot but I could be wrong) I pulled my tray from underneath the still draining pipe and walked off swearing at them. Later on I got called in by my boss who had received a complaint when I explained he said did you hit them? I said no but I wanted to he said I would of and then sent the bill out and also said if it injured me then he would recommend suing them.

I think I was lucky as it must of only been a very small amount went over my hand although they had put loads down (a bottle full).