How to Unclog a Frozen Shower Drain

Frozen drain pipes are a serious concern that should be addressed promptly. Water in these pipes will expand in harsh temperatures and cause pipe bursts, which can lead to expensive repairs. Frozen pipes can cause a number of problems like stalled drainage, inconsistent water flow, sewer backup, etc. While frozen and clogged drains are a sign of poor insulation and need professional repairs, you can try to unclog them without assistance. Here are some tips that can help:

1. Boil water

Boil a generous amount of water and add a cup full of salt to it. Salt is great at breaking down the ice, especially when it’s combined with very hot water. Make sure salt is completely dissolved before you use it.

2. Baking soda

While the water is boiling, put around ½ a cup of baking powder in the drain. Make sure it gets into the drain instead of sitting on top of it. The soda should reach frozen clogs inside the pipes to be effective.

3. Vinegar

Pour one cup of vinegar down the pipe immediately after putting baking soda. Vinegar reacts with soda, causing it to sizzle and bubble. This solution will agitate frost build up and slowly start to clear your frozen shower drain. This combination will also remove stubborn debris like dirt, lingering clumps of soap, etc.

4. Pour boiling water

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.

5. Run hot water

Run hot water from your shower or bathtub pipe steadily for at least five minutes to ensure all frost is cleared.  This is also a good way to check if all clogs are removed and water is draining freely. If you have a movable showerhead, place it directly over the drain for best results.

What to Do if your Pipes Freeze?

In some cases, pipes may freeze despite the preventative methods we take.  Should this happen, the first thing to do is turn off the water at the shut off valve.  This prevents the plumbing problems from becoming exacerbated when the pipes thaw.  The next thing to do is to call a professional plumber, like us at Dr.Pipe Drain and Plumbing.

Frozen Pipe Repairs

Repairing frozen pipes follows a basic process, which can be adjusted for customer’s situation.  Our process usually involves the following steps:

• Identification of the problem. We need to determine what cause the pipes to freeze.
• Isolation of the problem. This lets us know how big the problem is, and indicates how much of the pipe needs to be repaired.
• Temporary solution for smooth day to day activities. You need water for daily use: cooking, laundry, cleaning, and personal hygiene.  We figure out a solution to minimize disruptions to your daily routine.
• Thawing the frozen pipes. We need to remove the ice in order to repair the pipe.  Care will be taken to reduce any water damage during the thawing process.
• Frozen pipe repair. The pipe is repaired using state-of-the-art technology.  It is then inspected a second time to verify the problem is solved.

Why Contact Dr. Pipe Drain and Plumbing for Frozen Pipe Repair Service?