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Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,000
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

Reading the  usual roundup of threads about summer problems that are solved with bleach down the drain.  Can this hurt any type of pipe, copper, iron or PVC?  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,050
Registered: ‎03-15-2021

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

I believe I have read bleach can cause problems for copper pipes, but not PVC. I know bleach can really upset the balance of a septic system killing the enzymes or whatever that break down waste.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 72,844
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

As usual, ask Google. 

 

While bleach is a great way to clean and disinfect, it does not dissolve things like hair. However, bleach does remedy algae growth on the inside and outside of PVC pipes. You can pour bleach down the drain to without worrying about the safety of your PVC pipes

 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Honored Contributor
Posts: 37,738
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

[ Edited ]

I pour straight Pine-Sol down my drains if they get stinky. That kills bacteria, won't hurt plumbing and leaves a clean-smelling drain. The active ingredient in Pine-Sol is glycolic acid and that dissolves crud.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,418
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

If you haven't tried Green Gobbler, it's extremely effective, and safe.

QVC used to sell it; now I buy it from Amazon. Never disappointed.

@depglass 

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,000
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

Glycolic acid in Pine Sol . . . that's what Jennifer Stalone swore by in her facial cleanser, maybe Pine Sol will do me double duty.  (Just kidding)  We do have a package of Green Gobbler here, not a clue why we never tried it.  Tonight's task, after dinner.  Our bathroom sink gets this  black stuff all the time, I'm assuming it is fromt the gel toothpaste and gel soaps we use.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 37,738
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

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@depglass 

Yes! Glycolic acid is used as a cleaner, too. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 31,248
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

I spray the inside of my kitchen sink drain every night with Lysol spray. 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,515
Registered: ‎06-26-2011

Re: Will bleach hurt drains and pipes? Even if they are PVC?

I recently had a clog in the A/C condensate drain that connects to a little-used sink. My plumber advised that every two weeks or so I run hot water in that sink, then pour bleach or hydrogen peroxide down the drain. Apparently the cold water "congeals" in the P-trap in drains that aren't used on a regular basis (this could be aggravated by mineral content in the water). Some of my pipes are PVC and some are copper.