- Boil at least 2 gallons of water with 1 cup of table salt
- Put a half-cup of baking soda down the drain
- Pour 1 cup of vinegar in the drain with the baking soda
- Let the vinegar and baking soda react together until they stop fizzing (this will clean residues from the drain and pipe)
- Pour the boiling salt water down the drain to melt the ice, clearing the blockage
- Open the faucet and let hot water run down the drain for 4 to 5 minutes
How do I Thaw a frozen drain pipe?
Thank you. The task of thawing a frozen drain pipe begins with planning. Your drain pipe is connected to the main sewer pipe. The first step is to decide where you can easily access any portion of the sewer pipe to pour Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the pipe. There are a few locations available in most dwellings, homes, and buildings.
How do you unclog a frozen kitchen sink drain?
There are steps you can take, though, to unclog your frozen drain pipes and regain full usage of your sink. Run a pipe snake down into your drain to make sure your drain pipe is actually frozen and not just clogged. Pull the pipe snake back up and examine the end you sent down into the drain.
How can I prevent my pipes from freezing up?
To prevent some freezing you can open all bathroom and kitchen sink cabinets to allow more warm air from your home to warm the pipes. If your pipes are frozen, but you are lucky enough that the frozen pipes have not yet ruptured completely, then you will need to thaw the pipe!
How do you get ice out of a drain pipe?
Mix the salt with 3 cups of water and boil in a medium sized pot. Pour the mixture slowly into the drains to help the baking soda and vinegar mixture percolate through the frozen buildup in the pipe. The salt is a very effective ingredient that makes melting ice easy.
What can I put down my drain to unfreeze it?
Put a half-cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour 1 cup of vinegar in the drain with the baking soda. Let the vinegar and baking soda react together until they stop fizzing (this will clean residues from the drain and pipe) Pour the boiling salt water down the drain to melt the ice, clearing the blockage.
How do you unfreeze a main drain?
Most frozen icy waste removal jobs can be completed using the cold water supply from a garden hose. Heated water is usually not required. Use a sewer jetter with a nozzle that has a forward jet to help penetrate the icy clog.
How do you unfreeze an outside drain?
The best way to clear up ice in your outdoor drain is to run hot salt water or water mixed with a deicing chemical through frozen outdoor drains.
Will salt water thaw a frozen drain?
You may then plug the tape in and allow it to warm the pipe. You can thaw a frozen drain by pouring some table salt in and running cool to warm water. Be careful not to make the water too hot at first, or you may burst the pipe.
Can you pour hot water down the drain to unfreeze pipes?
Never pour hot water on frozen plumbing or try to thaw pipes with a blowtorch. The hot water usually freezes on the outside of the pipe, and the torch can cause frozen pipes to explode if steam is produced. Also, do not strike pipes in an attempt to break up the ice, as hammer blows can cause pipes to crack.
Should I pour boiling water down a frozen drain?
Slowly pour boiling water down the drain. This will melt frost and allow the soda/vinegar concoction to penetrate deeper into to pipes. Make sure you have enough boiling water to maintain the flow for some time. Don't dump all of the water into your frozen drain at once as that will be ineffective.
Can you put rock salt down a frozen drain?
You can use hot water and salt to thaw drainpipes. Stir a cup of kosher salt into hot water, then pour the concoction down the frozen drain. The concoction will act like rock salt put outside to melt ice-covered sidewalks.
How long does it take for pipes to thaw naturally?
Fortunately, most DIY methods for unfreezing pipes gets the water flowing again in 30-40 minutes. You might be tempted to wait for the pipes to thaw out by themselves. But keep in mind: Depending on the weather, the process can take days.
How do you melt ice in PVC pipe?
Heat the area where the pipe is frozen....Here are some tips:Drape a heating pad over the pipe (assuming it is dry on the outside)Use a hair dryer on the area.Place a space heater in a safe place near (but not dangerously close to) the pipe.
What melts ice in pipes?
Heat Gun. A heat gun can quickly thaw out frozen pipes so long as it's used carefully. A heat gun is a tool that emits heat at up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. As you can imagine, that will melt ice very quickly.
How do plumbers thaw frozen pipes?
Here's a quick lesson on how to thaw a frozen pipe.Turn on the faucet. Keep it running. ... Apply heat to the frozen area. Slowly apply heat using a hair dryer. ... Continue to apply heat. Don't stop heating until full water pressure is restored. ... Check all faucets and prevent pipes from freezing in the future.
How long does it take for pipes to unfreeze?
The time it takes for a pipe to unfreeze is based on a number of factors such as weather, how long they've been frozen and where they are located. Typically, you can unfreeze a pipe in thirty minutes, but depending on those mentioned factors and your method of unfreezing, it can take longer.
How do I clear the main drain line in my house?
Steps For How to Clear A Main Sewer Line ClogLoosen the Drain Pipe Cap (Cleanout Pipe) The first step is to find your main drain cleanout location. ... Remove Cap, Allow Build-Up to Drain. Once you remove the cleanout cap, step away quickly. ... Insert the Snake into Pipe. ... Run the Tool Until Clog Is Gone. ... Clean Up.
How do you unclog a main water line?
0:292:42How to backflush your supply lines - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn faucet handle to neutral position and turn the faucet on cold water will run up through theMoreTurn faucet handle to neutral position and turn the faucet on cold water will run up through the faucet and out the hot supply line into the bucket.
Can you pour Drano in main sewer line?
Bust a Sewer Clog With Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaner It's hardly ever a good idea to put Drano or a similar product in the toilet because it contains sodium hydroxide, which generates heat and can damage the pipes.
How do you know if your main drain is clogged?
Early warning signs of the drain being clogged are hearing bubbling or gurgling sounds coming from one or more of your drains. Or your toilet water or faucets may bubble, and waste water may back up into your tub or shower drain when you flush.
Can Drain Pipes Freeze? – What Causes Drain Pipes to Freeze?
Yes, drain pipes, including sewer drains, can easily freeze during harsh winters. There are a few common causes for this:
Issues Frozen Drain Pipes Can Cause
Frozen drain pipes can lead to serious issues and cause significant damage to homes and property. They can also cause your plumbing to become nonfunctional – which can be a dangerous issue in and of itself during extreme cold weather spells.
Frozen Drain Pipes – What To do!
For the best ways to thaw frozen drain pipes, and for more info on specific drain types: please read on.
How To Thaw A Frozen Drain Pipe
This is the best way to thaw a frozen drain pipe. It is also one of the safest methods.
Thawing A Frozen Washer Drain Pipe
Washer drains are notorious for freezing in the winter. Fixing them, however, is not necessarily difficult.
Frozen Toilet Drain
Frozen toilets and toilet drains freeze in the winter for several reasons.
How To Prevent Drain Pipes From Freezing
Proper insulation is the right answer when it comes to preventing frozen drains. It’s best to call a professional to do this, for many reasons. There are, however, some hotspots to look out for.
How to get water out of a frozen pipe?
Turn your taps on. Allow a small drizzle of water to run down into the frozen pipe from each faucet . This gets water flowing through your drain pipes from all inlets.
How to check if a drain pipe is frozen?
Run a pipe snake down into your drain to make sure your drain pipe is actually frozen and not just clogged. Pull the pipe snake back up and examine the end you sent down into the drain. If there is no hair or food stuck to the end of the pipe snake, your blockage is likely ice.
What to do if you can't reach frozen pipes?
If you cannot reach the frozen pipe, rent a heater with a blower at your nearest construction equipment rental facility . These heaters are strong enough to blow hot air all the way down into your drain pipe and melt the ice blockage.
Can you use a blow torch to thaw ice?
Do not use a blow torch to attempt to thaw an ice blockage in your pipes. A blow torch causes pipes to get too hot and can damage them.
What to do if your pipes are frozen?
If your pipes are frozen, but you are lucky enough that the frozen pipes have not yet ruptured completely, then you will need to thaw the pipe! Depending on the location of the frozen pipes there are a couple of plumbing tools and techniques to go about finding the frozen pipe. Try the different faucets in your home to identify the frozen pipe (s).
How to defrost a blocked faucet?
Gradually heat the blocked pipe from the faucet towards the frozen core defrosting the pipe.
How to melt a blockage in a pipe?
If you happen to have a portable electric heater, then you can use it to melt the blockage inside the pipe by directing the heater onto the frozen section of the pipe.
How to find frozen pipes?
To locate the frozen pipes and to determine which section of pipe is frozen, you can go about feeling the pipes with your hands.A frozen pipe will feel cold to the touch, pipes that still have water flowing through them will feel a lot warmer. An easier way to find frozen pipes is to use an infrared thermometer.
How to thaw a pipe yourself?
An easy and safe way to thaw a pipe yourself is to use a (high power) hairdryer. Almost everyone has got a hair dryer available and there is almost no risk of fire.
Where to look for frozen water pipes?
When you have no water comming from only one faucet or in only a certain part of your home, then you should probably look for the the frozen water pipe inside the outside walls, your basement or in the attic. To prevent some freezing you can open all bathroom and kitchen sink cabinets to allow more warm air from your home ...
What happens when pipes freeze?
When pipes inside your walls, in the attic, the basement or underneath your floors freeze, the ice inside will start to expand, if the ice expands enough it will cause the frozen pipes to burst and they will start to spill gallons of water. The leaking water in turn can cause up to thousands of dollars of damage to your home.
What Not to Put Down Your Drain
While none of these should instantaneously clog a kitchen sink or toilet, over time these items will significantly hurt your plumbing systems and pipes, so don’t put these down them:
When a Clogged Sink Becomes a Bigger Problem
While specific product and single-drain issues are important to understand and prevent, there is one scenario that requires significant alarm and immediate professional assistance: a mainline clog.
Other Considerations and FAQs
Not all things are detrimental to put down sinks and drains, some are actually quite helpful – but there are many household items that can cause some confusion. Here are a few common questions and answers we find helpful:
Need drain cleaning? Contact Deer Valley Plumbing Today
At Deer Valley plumbing, we have decades of experience helping homeowners make sustainable decisions to keep pipes and drains healthy. Our plumbing services include preemptive planning so that you won’t be stuck calling us ankle-deep in water.
Where to pour liquid fire pipe?
Some people will pour Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the stink pipe on the roof. Others will pour it into a cheater vent if there is one. These two locations do not have a trap so there will be no need to use a plunger.
What happens when you burp a drain?
A sewer burp happens unexpectedly and without warning launching dangerous debris up out of a drain. This can cause serious personal injury. Drains, sewers and septic pipes all release methane gas. Methane gas is combustible so do not use an open flame while working on any of these pipes. Methane gas can also make family members and pets extremely ill. When you have completed working on your frozen drain, sewer, and septic pipes, ALWAYS cap your pipes to prevent possible injury or illness caused from methane gas.
Can you pour liquid fire pipe into a sink?
Therefore you are able to pour in more Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the longer vertical length of pipe in a bathroom sink or a kitchen sink drain pipe.
Is drain cleaner residue strong?
Drain opener residue or drain cleaner residue is still strong enough to cause corrosive damage to these surfaces.
Does vaseline seal a drain?
Secondly; the Vaseline will act as a gasket seal when you insert a funnel into your drain.
Can a bathtub drain be stained?
Both a bathtub and a shower have a drain but both of these could be permanently stained by residues that may be contained inside of the drain pipe itself if a drain opener or drain cleaner has ever been used to clear a clogged drain. If you decide to use the drain pipe of either a bathtub or a shower the it is recommended that you do it in the following manner.
What to do if you have a bad smell in your drain?
Their acidic nature will kill bacteria and dissolve stuck-on grease. It may be a good idea to chop up a lemon and send lemon chunks and vinegar down the drain if you’ve been dealing with a persistent odor recently.
What foods can cause a clogged drain?
You should also stay away from starches. Pasta, potato peels, rice, and other starchy foods can leave a residue which can cause clogs.
What to do if your garbage disposal gets clogged?
If your garbage disposal becomes clogged, keep your hands out of the disposal at all costs. The blades could come unstuck and cause horrible injuries. If the disposal is stuck, make use of a wooden spoon handle instead. This will let you shift debris loose without putting yourself at danger.
What to do if you have questions about garbage disposal?
For any questions that you might have about your garbage disposal or your plumbing in general, you should call us to set up a free consultation. We can address your concerns, and help you out with any specific plumbing or garbage disposal issues that you may currently be having.
Can you put food in a garbage disposal?
You can put almost all foods in your garbage disposal. It is designed to turn chunks of meat, vegetables, and some grains into a fine slurry that will drain down your plumbing. If used properly, your garbage disposal can greatly reduce the risk of a clog. The primary thing to remember is that garbage disposals are for food waste.
Can a plumber take a garbage disposal apart?
Instead, you should get a professional plumber to come in and take a look at your garbage disposal. They’ll be able to take it apart safely and remove the blockage.
Can celery go down the garbage disposal?
Avoid shoving an entire stalk of celery down the disposal, for instance. Instead, make sure that all waste is cut up into manageable chunks. As a general rule of thumb, if you can eat it, it can go down the garbage disposal. The list below provides more details on a few of the types of food and kitchen waste which are exceptions to this rule.
