I think the line running from my house to the municipal sewer system has partially frozen. It's been below freezing here for weeks on end, with no end in sight. I hadn't noticed any problems until I ran a load of laundry today. After the washing machine drained, I found the bathtub was full of sudsy water that had obviously come from the washing machine. Eventually the water drained out, so I'm assuming the ice plug is only partially blocking the line. Should I try running hot water for a while?
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1I would. If that doesn't work, I'd try some drain cleaner liquid.– getterdunFeb 9, 2014 at 16:11
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Usually a sewer would be buried deep enough so that it won't freeze. Your water line is usually run near the sewer line too, so if it were could enough, I would expect that to freeze as well. Sounds more like a clog that should be snaked. if you want to know for sure, you need to run a video inspection camera down the sewer.– StevenFeb 10, 2014 at 2:49
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@Steven - I have seen this happen in vacant homes but not when people were living in them. If you have a really cold winter plus highish lines - and maybe a slow drip out of a faucet... I have seen frozen sewer lines. I would like to hear what it was because this person appeared to have been doing a lot of stuff to have frozen lines.– DMooreMar 12, 2014 at 6:27
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2 Answers
I would start with boiling water - a couple of very large pots. Dump. If you get any kickback or notice that your water levels stay high repeat a few times. If you have ice or a blocked line, really hot water helps both.
Normally you would check your water levels in a cleanout or basement drain - from the sounds of it you have a bathtub at your low point or maybe it is at the same level. Usually I tell people to have one person look with flashlight on drain. If you see the water levels rise, even a little temporarily then usually there is some sort of blockage - I know that it may be ice in your case.
If the water isn't backing up into tub move on...
Then I would fill showers/sinks/tubs - anything that holds hot/scalding water and fill them until you run out - except for said tub that got the backwash. Again good to have another person at tub/drain. Dump everything at once. If it starts backwashing to tub then stop. You have to think just after a few times doing this that ice would be thoroughly melted and then you need to troubleshoot like your main line is clogged.
Hot water doesn't work. It doesn't melt as much ice as the ice can cool the water. Then there's cold water atop the ice preventing the hot from getting through.
Only works if there is movement in the line. But then again any temperature of moving water will clear ice.
Use the cleanout to determine where the blockage is. Apply heat.
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Why did this get downvote? just because I disagree with the collective?– TroutMay 27, 2015 at 13:14
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There ya go Trout. I got you back to even. Because you're right about hot water not working (for the most part). That is, just pouring hot water in won't thaw my sewer line when it freezes. It has to be jetted. Last night I thought I'd give it another try with near boiling water and a drain snake to hopefully break up the ice. Then I'd vacuum up the water I put in and hold it in a large garbage can. Then repeated about 8 times. I might have made 1 inch of progress. The water jet guy could clear it in under 10 minutes (for $350). Mar 5, 2022 at 16:06