Agreed on the drain snake, but does anyone else worry about boiling water potentially damaging older PVC pipes? I've always stuck to warm water and dish soap just to be safe...maybe I'm overly ca...
I've honestly never heard of boiling water damaging PVC pipes—seems like you'd need sustained heat for that. But still, warm water and dish soap isn't a bad habit...better safe than sorry, I guess.
PVC pipes typically handle boiling water pretty well for short periods, but older pipes can get brittle, so your caution isn't unfounded. Honestly, warm water and soap is a solid, low-risk practice...you're doing fine being careful.
"Honestly, warm water and soap is a solid, low-risk practice...you're doing fine being careful."
Totally agree with this. I've seen older PVC pipes crack firsthand when exposed to boiling water repeatedly—especially if they're already brittle from age or temperature fluctuations. Warm water and mild soap is definitely the safer route. You're smart to be cautious; better safe than dealing with an unexpected plumbing headache down the line. Sounds like you're already on top of things!
Yeah, warm water and soap is usually fine, but I wouldn't get too comfortable. A few years back, I moved into an older house—thought I was being careful by avoiding harsh chemicals and boiling water. Still ended up with a nasty clog because apparently the previous owners poured grease down there regularly. Took forever to clear out. So...even mild methods won't always save you if the pipes have seen some abuse. Just something to keep in mind.
- Just moved into my first place a few months ago, and honestly, this thread is making me rethink how I've been handling the drains.
- I've mostly stuck to warm water and dish soap too, thinking that's enough to keep things clear. But now I'm wondering... how do you even know if the previous owners were careful or not?
- Had a minor scare last week when the kitchen sink drained slower than usual—turned out fine after some plunging, but maybe that's a sign of trouble ahead?
- Is there any way to check pipe condition without calling in a plumber right away? I'm guessing there's no easy DIY way to see what's going on down there, right?
- Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience. Definitely gonna be more cautious about what goes down the drain from now on.
