Frozen pipes or shower drains will not just negatively impact your plumbing system, it can burst, causing flooding and (subsequently) water damage to your home. Henceforth, frozen plumbing in your home can be detrimental to your home.

In the urgent case of frozen plumbing, a homeowner may wish to begin the thawing process on their own. We suggest that once you identify that your home’s pipes are freezing, call a professional drain cleaning company to let their experts continue the work in ensuring your home’s plumbing will be safe and working well.

The following tips are some first steps a homeowner can take to help thaw frozen pipes and drains in their home.

How to Unfreeze a Frozen Drainpipe

In most cases, a frozen drainpipe can be unfrozen by pouring hot water down it. Once the drain starts flowing, turn the faucet on and run warm water for 4-5 minutes to ensure the drain is completely clear.  Here are some other ways to unfreeze a frozen drain pipe.

  • Turn up the heat: Turn up your thermostat and open the cabinet doors. As the warm comes in contact with the frozen pipe, the ice will start melting. Be patient as this method may take up to two hours to work
  • Use table salt: Common salt reacts with water to lower its freezing point. Pour salt down the drain pipe and let it sit for some time. If you want to speed up defrosting, use a mixture of (half a cup of) salt and (half a gallon of) water
  • Wrap electric heat tape around the pipe: Electric heat tape contains heating elements. wrap it around the frozen pipe and warm it up using a thermostat
  • Use a heat lamp: Aim the light from the heat pump at the frozen pipe and wait for a few minutes. Hold the light at a safe distance from the pipe or it could do more harm than good

How to Unfreeze a Frozen Shower Drain

Unfreezing a frozen shower drain is not as straightforward as thawing a frozen drain pipe. You may not have access to the pipes beneath. Follow these steps to thaw your shower drain.

  • Mix one cup of salt with two gallons of water. Boil the mixture
  • Put half cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain. Let the mixture sit for some time. Once the mixture stops fizzing, pour the salt and water solution down it. This will melt the ice, clearing the blockage
  • Turn the faucet on and let hot water run for 4-5 minutes

How to Thaw Water Pipes

If you suspect that a part of your water line has frozen, first and foremost, locate the frozen portion. Once you have located the frozen part of your main, use an electric heat tape, heat lamp, space heater, blow dryer, or hot packs to thaw frozen pipes.

Malfunctioning plumbing components giving you sleepless nights? Redwood Sewer & Drain can help. We offer top-notch drain cleaning services near you in Santa Rosa. Whether you have a leaking faucet or a clogged drain, we can help. To make an appointment, call (707)393-1959.