Metal floor drain and muriatic acid

[pawolf]

I'm looking to epoxy my garage floor this spring. In the center of my garage is a metal floor drain. The house was built in the '60s. Am I going to have any issues if I use muriatic acid to etch the floor with regards to the drain and/or pipe connected to it? Thanks.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

There will be some reaction, assuming it rusted and no longer painted or plated. I would guess allot of the chemical action in the acid will be closer to inert by the time it hits the drain or pipe, just flush lots of water benind it when you done. I used to clean rusted steel parts in a 5 gal bucket of Muratic. Not recommended, but from doing that, I can share that it will not "dissolve" your drian, or drain pipe. You wont have enough there long enough to do any damage. Worst case, it may clean off some of the rust and take it down to bare metal.

 

[porphyre]

I've got a floor drain in my garage and didn't even think about it when I did the floor using Muriatic acid. I had no problems. Didn't even take any rust off or clean it up any. It's still grody. I saw another thread (yesterday?) that suggested dumping some baking powder down it, coating the inside and lip with baking powder too.

You should be fine.