Frozen Tub Drain [work] -
I realized I needed to understand where the freeze was. In a tub, the "P-trap" (the U-shaped pipe underneath) holds water to stop sewer gas from coming up. If that water isn't moving and the pipe is against an exterior wall or in a crawlspace with no insulation, that standing water turns into a solid plug of ice.
Attempting to thaw ice through several inches of cold, standing bathwater is ineffective because the cold water absorbs and dissipates the heat before it ever reaches the ice blockage. frozen tub drain
My first instinct was panic. Standing water in a tub when it’s below zero outside is a recipe for a burst pipe or a cracked bathtub basin if that water expands further. I realized I needed to understand where the freeze was
Call a professional if:
