If you want a straight answer, then It’s not safe to pour boiling water down the kitchen sink. And it’s neither safe nor effective to pour boiling water to unclog your kitchen sink pipe.
For DIY many of us tried this method and I bet a maximum of them faced some troubles instead of unclogging the pipe. Below I’m adding some reasons why you shouldn’t pour boiling water down the kitchen sink.
- If you are using a porcelain sink, the sink can get cracked due to excessive heat.
- There are possibilities that your sink can get discolored/pale due to it.
- The biggest problem is with the pipe and joint. If the water is too hot it can melt the pipe or change the structure of the pipe.
However, if you have no clog in your kitchen sink, then some experts suggest it’s safe to run down the boiling water as the water won’t be trapped in the pipe. The boiling water can melt the PVC pipe or any seals if it’s trapped for a while. So, when you have a clear sink, then after you pour the boiling water, make sure to run down cool water to pacify the steam
NB: It’s only for specific types of kitchen sinks such as ceramic kitchen sinks.
Does Boiling Water Damage The Kitchen Sink Pipe?
Yes, boiling water can damage kitchen sink pipes. Always remember the thumb rule- if you pour boiling hot water into the plastic pipe, it’ll melt the plastic and cause heavy damage. It’s basic science! However, even if you pour boiling water on an iron pipe, the rubber joints will soften gradually and cause leakage & damage.
That’s why if you want a safer and more effective option to unclog your kitchen sink, then consider using chemical products like Hydro Jet Cleaning Service. It’ll be cost-effective, safe, and with no damage to your pipe. Plus, you can also use vinegar and baking soda for cheaper options! For the utmost safety, the superior option can be the plumbers.
What Types of Pipes Can Withstand Boiling Water And What Types Can’t?
As I mentioned before, it’s not safe to pour boiling water into the kitchen sink. However, not all types of pipes are like these, Some types of pipes can withstand boiling water.
Below a quick overview table is given for better understanding. So, have a look.
| Types of Pipes | Withstand Boiling Water |
| Plastic PVC | No |
| Iron | Yes |
| CPVC | No |
| Copper | Yes |
| Pex | No |
| Galvanized Steel | Yes |
Now, as the boiling temperature of the water is 212°F and there is no material other than steel and iron that can tolerate the temperature. That’s why the material of the pipe will melt and cause heavy damage. If your kitchen pipe is made of PVC, CPVC, or Pex, then it won’t withstand boiling water. As a result, your kitchen pipe will face severe damage.
Iron or Steel pipes won’t get severely damaged by the boiling water. However, the rubber or plastic joints can be ruined if the boiling water is trapped. That’s why it’s NOT recommended to pour boiling water on any kind of pipe if there is a clog. Rather you can pour boiling water on an unclogged kitchen pipe followed by cold
Is Boiling Water Effective for Unclog The Sink Pipe?
If you want an honest answer, then NO. Boiling water does nothing to help in unclogging the kitchen sink or basin or any drain. It ends up damaging the joints or pipe. Even if you pour gallons of boiling water, it won’t unclog the garbage, rather the water will be trapped on the garbage and melt or soften the joint or pipe. That’s why boiling water isn’t an effective or safe option to loosen up any clog.
I want to remind you that, if you have a sink, tub, basin, or toilet made of porcelain, then don’t even think about pouring hot or boiling water on it. Boiling water will cause some cracks on the surface of the porcelain. However, it’s also risky for you to pour boiling water on the sink as it may burn your hand resulting in scalding.
What to Use Instead of Boiling Water For Clogged Kitchen Sink Pipe?
If you don’t want to use any chemical-based liquid or powder, you can use physical sink cleaning tools. Such as-
- Plunger
- Augers
- Snakes
- Baking soda and vinegar
- Liquid dish soap and hot water
All of these tools are very inexpensive than the chemical-based solution and clean manually. The sink or drain snake with plastic teeth is quite popular and effective to unclog and loosen up the garbage! You’ll find these in your nearby shops.
How to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink?
In this segment, I’ll be discussing the way to unclog your kitchen sink. You already know what to use to unclog a kitchen sink. Among all of them, I would suggest using baking soda and vinegar.
So, to unclog any mild clogs in the basin or kitchen sink, first, pour some baking soda into the pipe, then pour some vinegar. This will solve the problem quite easily as it’s acidic but not as acidic to harm your pipe. However, as I mentioned before it’ll unclog your mild clogs, but if you have severe clogs, then you should seek help from a plumber instead of any DIY hacks.
Can you pour boiling water into a ceramic sink?
To logically get the answer you’ll have to compare the withstand temperature of ceramic and boiling water. Ceramics can withstand temperatures up to 1000°C to 1,600°C. And the temperature of boiling water is 100 °C. That means a ceramic kitchen sink can withstand the temperature of boiling water. Even if there is any sudden change in temperature there won’t be any damage. So, you can pour boiling water into a ceramic sink.
Conclusion
So, I think you have no more confusion on the question – is it safe to pour boiling water down the kitchen sink?
After all of this detailed discussion, pouring boiling water may get trapped with the clogs in your pipe and soften the joints or pipe. Resulting in leakage or damage to the pipe system. To prevent these problems, avoid pouring boiling water, rather use the methods mentioned above in the article to remove unwanted clogs in your kitchen sink. Best of luck!
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