Our laundry room is located on a crawl because of it was part of an addition to our house. It gets really cold back there and now the drain pipe froze so we can't do our laundry anymore. The water supply (both hot and cold) are still working fine. Any suggestions on how to thaw the drain pipe without having to go into the crawl space and heat it? The crawl space is not easily accessible and I am afraid to go in there. Help!
2007-02-10 07:05:10 · 9 answers · asked by Sugar_Mama 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Ice melt. Boiling water down a cold standpipe stands a good chance of cracking it. Ice melt will dissolve and won't clog the drain. About a cup should do it.
Another alternative is the High performance windshield washer fluid.
2007-02-10 12:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go rent one of those kerosene burning or electric heaters that lays on its side (looks like a little jet engine or something) and blows hot air out the end, aim it into the crawl space to heat it until the pipe thaws. Then next spring insulate the drain line!
2007-02-10 07:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by barefoot_always 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they make an electric tape to warm pipes buy it at depot or go under there and wrap the pipe with pink insulation and then plastic to the floor joists then the heat above will be trapped aropund the pipe and the heat of the water will be trapped in the pipe now pour hot water down the pipes boiled good luck or cut the black pipe ouit with a hack saw then remove the ice then clamp it back to the main 4 inch pipe and use till it needs to be cleaned again but if its been cleaned out then wrap it with some insulation the rubber clamps can be purchase at walmart or the depot now the thing works but it can be cleaned good luck
2007-02-10 07:18:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried slowly pouring boiling water down the laundry drain?
When it is finally cleared you need to brave one trip into that area next spring and tape one of those electric heating tracer tapes onto the bottom of the drain pipe. They have a thermostat you can set so they only use electricity for heating when the pipe is close to freeze-temperature. You will never have a problem again.
2007-02-10 07:11:28 · answer #4 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can try heating the pipes with a hair dryer if you can reach it. Also, when you get through this ordeal, insulate your pipes and keep the doors to the area open to get heat.
2007-02-10 07:08:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pour boiling water down the drain.
2007-02-10 07:08:45 · answer #6 · answered by mountie218 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
grainger sells a heater that raps around the pipe they have a website
2007-02-10 15:18:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try some Draino,it produces some heat, might melt the ice.
2007-02-10 08:56:07 · answer #8 · answered by ARE BEE 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ANYWAY , YOU COULD PUT SPACE HEATERS IN THERE , AND KEEP A EYE ON THEM , SO NOTHING CATCHES FIRE?
2007-02-10 07:08:40 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋