How To Thaw A Frozen Outside Drain Pipe?

Keeping your home and the pipes in it healthy requires maintenance and upkeep. Among other things, you’ll need to check your frozen outside drain pipe from time to time. If you have a frozen drainpipe, then this is an article for you! Even if you live in a mild climate, the freezing temperatures of winter can cause your outdoor drain and its related pipes to freeze up. Fortunately, with the right tools and preparation, thawing a frozen outside drain pipe isn’t difficult at all. Keep reading to learn how to thaw a frozen outside drain pipe so that you can get back to normal operations as soon as possible.

How To Thaw A Frozen Outside Drain Pipe?

Check the Outside Drain Pipe for Damage

If your outside drain pipe is frozen, the first thing you should do is inspect it for any damage. If there is damage, then you’ll need to take appropriate measures to free the pipe and prevent further damage.

Cut a Hole in the Frozen Drain Pipe

If there is no damage to the outside drain pipe, you can proceed to cut a hole in the frozen pipe using a saw or a cutting tool of some sort. Make sure that you use caution while doing this so that you don’t injure yourself or damage your property.

Use a De-icer or Frost Buster to Thaw the Frozen Pipe

Once you have cut a hole in the frozen drainpipe, use a de-icer or frost buster to thaw it out. Do not attempt to thaw the entire pipe at once; instead, work small sections at a time until the entire pipe is thawed.

Protect the Pipe from further Freezing

Once the pipe is thawed, make sure to protect it from further freezing by wrapping it with a layer of insulation or tarps. Do not leave the pipe uncovered; instead, cover it with a weatherproof material so that it can withstand the cold temperatures of winter.

Repair any Damaged Parts

Once the outside drain pipe is free from the frozen condition, you can repair any damaged parts as necessary. This will ensure that your home remains healthy and operational during the coldest months of the year.

Repeat the Process If Necessary

If the outside drain pipe freezes again in the future, follow the same steps outlined in this article to thaw it out and get back to normal operations.

What Is A Frozen Outside Drain Pipe?

1. A frozen outside drain pipe is a pipe that is attached to the outside of your home and runs down to the ground.
2. When the weather gets cold, the water inside the pipe can freeze.
3. The water inside the pipe can cause damage to your home if it freezes solid.
4. A frozen outside drainpipe can also cause problems with drainage, which can lead to flooding in your home.
5. To avoid these problems, you’ll need to thaw a frozen outside drainpipe as soon as possible.
6. There are a few things you can do to help thaw a frozen outside drainpipe.
7. One of the most important things you can do is to use a plunger.
8. You can also use a heat gun or an oven.
9. Keep in mind that thawing a frozen outside drainpipe won’t fix any underlying problems, so be sure to call a professional if necessary.

Using A Propane Torch Or Blowtorch

• Start by locating the frozen drainpipe. It will likely be located near your home’s foundation or exterior wall.
• Use a propane torch or blowtorch to heat up the surrounding area around the frozen pipe. This will cause the pipe to start melting and eventually break free from the ice.
• Once the pipe has freed itself from the ice, use a garden hose to flush out any residual water and debris.
• Make sure to clean any melted areas on your property before continuing with normal maintenance tasks.
• Remember to use caution when working with a propane torch or blowtorch, as these tools can be dangerous if used improperly. Always wear safety goggles and protective clothing when using these tools.
• If you need to thaw a large number of pipes, then you may want to consider hiring a professional.
• Keep in mind that freezing temperatures can cause other pipes in your home to become frozen as well. Be sure to check them all out before the cold weather sets in!

Using A Hot Water Extension Coil

1. Start by locating the frozen drainpipe. On cold days, the pipe may be hidden beneath snow and ice. If this is the case, you may need to break through the ice to get to it. Once you’ve located the frozen drainpipe, use a shovel or a pickaxe to break through the ice and snow.
2. Next, use a bucket or a pail of hot water to melt the ice and snow on top of the drainpipe. Use a plunger or your hands to push the melted water down into the drainpipe.
3. Once all of the ice and snow has been melted, use a hot water extension coil to hot water from a tap and pour it down into the drainpipe. Use a bucket or your hands to push the hot water up against the sides of the drainpipe until it reaches the mainline of pipes.
4. Turn off all of your outside faucets so that there is no water flowing into or out of your home. Wait until the outside drainpipe has been completely thawed before you turn on your faucets again.
5. Once the outside drainpipe has been thawed, use a shovel or a pickaxe to break through the frozen main line of pipes. Use a plunger or your hands to push the melted water down into the drainpipe.
6. Once all of the ice and snow has been melted, use a hot water extension coil to hot water from a tap and pour it down into the drainpipe. Use a bucket or your hands to push the hot water up against the sides of the drainpipe until it reaches the mainline of pipes.
7. Turn off all of your outside faucets so that there is no water flowing into or out of your home. Wait until the outside drainpipe has been completely thawed before you turn on your faucets again.
8. Once the outside drainpipe has been thawed, use a shovel or a pickaxe to break through the frozen main line of pipes. Use a plunger or your hands to push the melted water down into the drainpipe.
9. Once all of the ice and snow has been melted, use a hot water extension coil to hot water from a tap and pour it down into the drainpipe. Use a bucket or your hands to push the hot water up against the sides of the drainpipe until it reaches the mainline of pipes.

Using An Electric Drain De-Icer

• If you live in a temperate climate, your best bet for thawing a frozen outside drain pipe is to use an electric drain de-icer. De-icers work by breaking down the ice and snow that has built up on the outside of the pipe, which then allows water to flow more freely.
• Plugin your de-icer and wait until it begins to produce heat. This will take about 15 minutes.
• Once the de-icer is hot, pour a small amount of hot water down the drainpipe. This will start melting the ice and snow on the outside of the pipe.
• Keep pouring hot water down the drainpipe until all of the ice and snow has melted. Make sure to keep an eye on the de-icer so that it doesn’t overheat and start producing flames!
• Once the outside of the pipe is free of ice and snow, turn off the de-icer and unplug it. Congratulations, you’ve successfully thawed a frozen outside drainpipe!

Conclusion

Frozen pipes are a common problem during the winter, and they can be a serious problem if they aren’t dealt with properly. Luckily, it’s easy to thaw a frozen outside drain pipe with just a few household tools. To start, you should make sure that you keep your house warm during the winter. In particular, you should make sure that the room where your water pipes are located is warm enough. You should also check your outside drain every few days to make sure that it isn’t frozen. If it is, you can use one of the methods above to thaw it out and get back to normal operations as soon as possible.