When you have a clogged sink or toilet, the first reaction is to head to the hardware store and pick up a drain cleaner. However, some homeowners also swear they use a can of soda pop to clear a drain. Is this a legitimate DIY plumbing remedy for unclogging a drain?

The Truth About Unclogging a Drain with Soda Pop

Believe it or not, this is actually a viable home remedy. How does a can of Coca Cola clear a backed-up sink drain? The power lies in the phosphoric acid, which gives the beverage the slightly tangy texture. The phosphoric acid, as suggested in its name, is quite acidic. This makes it effective as a dissolving agent. This is also why soda pop is hazardous for your teeth; the acidity erodes tooth enamel.

How to Apply This Remedy

Some people just pour in a typical 12-ounce can of soda pop to clear the drain. We suggest pouring an entire two-liter bottle. Once you empty the bottle, let the carbonated liquid sit for one to two hours before flushing the drain with water.

Keep in mind that not just any bottle of soda will work. Root beer, for example, does not contain phosphoric acid and will have no effect. We also suggest using diet soda. Regular soda may leave behind a sugar-syrupy film inside the pipe’s interior, which can cause debris to stick.

What if It Doesn’t Work?

No DIY solution is foolproof. Your drain may contain solids that the phosphoric acid simply can’t dissolve. If the clog persists after two or three bottle’s worth of Pepsi, then call a plumber.

We Are the Next Line of Defense

If DIY solutions fail, then call Plumbing & Heating Specialists. Our service costs more than a two-liter soda, but results are guaranteed. Plus, our special offers make plumbing and heating services affordable. Unclogging a drain with soda pop is a viable but far from foolproof solution.

Residential Drain Cleaning

Serving Customers in Snohomish, King & Pierce Counties, including Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Bothell, Snohomish, Shoreline, Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Maltby, Lake Forest Park, Everett, Marysville, Lake Stevens & Woodway