How to Unfreeze Drain Pipes

September 17, 2020

Few things spark feelings of frustration like seeing water backing up from a drain into a sink. Clogged pipes are a pain, and with winter on the horizon some people may deal with it’s less talked about cousin, frozen pipes. Should you run into this situation, would you know how to unfreeze drain pipes?

Thaw The Pipe

If you can locate where the pipe is frozen, you can gently heat the pipe in an attempt to clear the clog. Don’t use a candle, a blowtorch, or anything with an open flame as you might damage the pipe. Instead, use a hair dryer moving it back and forth along the pipe or a small space heater.

Use Hot Water

If that doesn’t work, or if you can’t locate or access the frozen section of pipe, pour hot water down a drain. Warm a pot of water on the stove until it’s just about to boil and pour it down the drain. This will be significantly warmer than just using the water from the tap and give you a better chance of clearing the pipe.

Mix In Some Salt

There’s a reason road crews in snowy regions put salt on roads in winter. It lowers the melting temperature of water and helps keep the roads clear. Add salt to the water you boil on the stove before pouring it down the drain to help resolve the situation.

Try Commercial Products

Commercial products designed specifically to unfreeze drain pipes are available. One such product is Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw. It won’t be free like the above solutions, but it’ll be cheaper than a plumber.

Call A Plumber

When you’ve exhausted every other option, it’s time to call in the professionals who know how to unfreeze drain pipes. Plumbers will cost you at least $80 an hour for their services, but if you can’t resolve the issue yourself you really have no other choice. If you don’t get your drain cleared, you run the risk of damage to your home as more water backs up, or an even costlier repair if the pipe bursts.

Frozen pipes are inconvenient, but they’re one of those things you might just have to deal with in life. Try one of the self-help options above to resolve the issue quickly and cheaply first. But if you can’t unfreeze the drain pipe yourself, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.

How about you, Clever Friends, have you experienced frozen drain pipes? How did you get them opened up again?

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