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In extended periods of 2 – 3 days in colder weather below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, American Rooter usually experiences an increase in calls for help with the following: frozen drains, plumbing pipes freezing, water lines that are froze and heat pipes that iced up.

Shallow underground sewer pipes, poor pipe insulation, poor wall insulation, no heat, or drafty areas in the building are common causes for pipes freezing. Pipes constantly full of water, like heat pipes or hot and cold water plumbing, are constantly at risk of freezing if they are not running. Drain pipes are at less of a risk of freezing unless they have a very slow trickle or if the pipe is clogged and holding water. However, shallow septic leach field pipes tend to be higher risk because of their shallow depths and exterior exposure to the cold.

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If you suspect that a drain pipe or water pipes are frozen, the best action to try yourself is to heat the area with space heaters and if possible close it off from any cold or drafts. Drains or pipes in basements, garages, cellars, and external walls of the house or building are commonly found frozen so pipes in these areas should always be well insulated to protect them from freezing.

Copper water lines for hot and cold water supply or hot water heat are usually the easiest to de-ice using American Rooter’s electric current de-icer. However, pipes sometimes get damaged from the water freezing and ice expanding. So copper lines sometimes require repairs to stop the leaks where the ice pushed the joints apart or split the pipe. Unfortunately these further repairs are only obvious after restoring flow to the lines in most cases.

Frozen plastic water pipes or pvc heat pipes can only be defrosted by direct heat and are sometimes harder to fix in hard to reach areas. Direct heat on the pipe, wall, ceiling or floor where the pipe is located can usually thaw the pipe over a long period of time.

Call American Rooter for help to unfreeze your drain pipes if heating the area is impossible or unsuccessful. Frozen drain pipes can be more difficult to defrost and unclog than most other pipes. To fix frozen drain pipes, American Rooter, The Drain Experts are equipped with the knowledge and tools to diagnose the frozen area and almost always unfreeze the drain before leaving the jobsite. American Rooter uses electric conducting defrosters, water-jetters, space heaters, heat guns, and hot water hoses to unclog frozen drains. We can also make invaluable recommendations to help prevent the pipe from freezing again.