Clearing Frozen | Drain Pipes

Before you start thawing, ensure you aren't dealing with a standard clog. Common indicators of a frozen drain include:

Drain pipes (waste and vent lines) typically contain standing or slow-moving water, making them susceptible to freezing. They are often located in unheated areas of a home, such as: clearing frozen drain pipes

Gurgling, banging, or clanging often indicates ice traveling through the pipe or the initial stages of a freeze-thaw cycle. Before you start thawing, ensure you aren't dealing

Once water begins flowing slowly, run warm tap water through the system to melt remaining ice. Once water begins flowing slowly, run warm tap

: Look for frost or extreme cold on pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces, basements, or exterior walls.

If the pipe is metal and accessible, slowly pour hot (not boiling) water over it. Never pour hot water into a drain if you don’t know the pipe material—it can crack PVC or ceramic fixtures. Instead, apply water to the exterior of the pipe.