How To Dissolve Concrete In A Drainpipe (Step-by-Step Guide)

It happens to the best of us; we’re so involved in getting our new project done that we become careless and overlook something. Maybe you cleaned your tools wet with concrete near the drain system or some of the powdered concrete mix ended up spilling into a sink. Whatever the reason, now you have to figure out how to dissolve concrete in the drainpipe.

To dissolve concrete in a drainpipe, use a concrete dissolver, acid, a plumbing snake, or an electric power auger. If the concrete is still wet, use a shop vac to remove the concrete (make sure to clean your vac thoroughly). Pour dissolver if necessary, wait, then use the shop vac to suck out the concrete. You can also use a high-pressure hose to flush the line.

The purpose of this article is not to advertise for any specific drain cleaning product. When mentioning a certain brand, it is because that is what an expert or professional has recommended. A professional-grade concrete dissolver may be your only hope of getting that drain cleared.

This is a biodegradable mixture that works well in getting concrete out of your pipes. It will also get rid of leveling compound, grout, and mortar. You will need to pour it in the pipe, let it sit for some time, and then use a hydro jet or pressure washer to blow it out of there.

In some cases, it can take 48 hours. This is typically for concrete that has been in the pipe for more than a week. However, with grout or newly formed concrete, 24 hours is usually sufficient. You may have to do this several times to get it all out depending on how much is in there and how long it has been there.

If you have never used acid (hydrochloric acid) before, we suggest you do some research first. It is a dangerous chemical to use and you have to protect your skin, eyes, and lungs when working with it. You should be wearing long rubber gloves, a mask, and eye protection while using acid of any kind.

Carefully pour one cup of acid into the drain slowly. Let it sit for three to four hours. Then flush the drain with at least four gallons of water. Afterward, you can use a plunger or plumbing snake to get rid of the rest of the concrete. Make sure all of the acid is removed before doing this though.

Related Questions

How Does Concrete Get into Drainpipes?

Believe it or not, it happens more often than most people think. Especially if you work in the construction field. If you work with concrete, grout, and other hardening materials all day and do not clean it all off before showering every day, where do you think that stuff is going? And if you are doing a DIY project at home, washing your tools in the sink can cause this issue as wellAnother common cause of concrete getting into drainpipes is when you wash your clothes. After a day of working with concrete, you cannot just throw away your clothes every day. So, you wash your work clothes in the washing machine. Any of these materials that come off go right down the drain where they will eventually cause a clog.

Many think that concrete and cement are the same things. But they are not the same. Cement is made of silica, clay, limestone, and calcium. It works great to bind small areas, but it is prone to cracking.

There is cement in the concrete, though. When you use cement mix with water, it turns into concrete. But cement is only about 15% of the concrete mix. When you mix the water into the cement, these things harden and turn into a solid mass like a rock. It continues to get stronger as it gets older.