PLUMBING QUESTION How to unthaw underground water line or plugged underground water line?

Question

I have no water coming into my house from the underground water line that comes into my basement. I thought the water was froze in the underground pipe so i had a plumber come and try to unthaw the pipe. He put something like a welder clamp on at the meter and one on the pipe that comes into my basement and heated the pipe up for an hour and a half but it didnt unthaw the pipe. He also ran 30 feet of tubing up threw the pipe from my basement out towards the meter but didnt hit any ice or water. He stopped at this point and told me there wasnt much else he could do with it unless i wanted to keep paying him to heat up the pipe but he couldnt promise that it would come unthawed. He told me to wait until it warms up outside for it to unthaw. WHAT CAN I DO TO UNTHAW THE PIPE OR IF ITS PLUGGED WITH CALCIUM HOW DO I UNPLUG IT????

Answer 1

If the pipe comes up through the floor of the basement I have doubts that it's frozen. If he ran 30 feet of tubing up it I have doubts that it is clogged too. It is possible that it is frozen at the meter, if your meter is in a pit at the street and it's cold enough it could freeze there. I suggest contacting the city water dept and explain to them what is happening, it may be there problem to fix. If not, they will let you know with no charge.

Answer 2

Sounds like a frozen meter, or water company problem. Contact the water company.

Answer 3

It sounds like to me that it could be frozen at your meter and that is rare, but it happens depending on how cold it got.

When it thaws next time run drips of water from your faucets to insure a no freeze next time.

Answer 4

I thought mine had the same problem frozen, but I have a backflow device that had calcium buildup, a good shake and I had pressure again.

Answer 5

Make sure the water company didn't shut off your water.

Answer 6

ther is certainly no calcium in it. water meter answers are pretty good.