Frozen shower drain pipes are not just an inconvenience that can happen in the winter, but a serious concern that needs to be addressed right away. This is because there is a chance that your pipes will burst, which will then require repairs that can often be expensive.
In this article, we will discuss signs that your shower drain is frozen to watch out for, outline how to thaw frozen drain pipes yourself, from safety precautions to materials needed to various thawing methods and what not to do, and give you tips to prevent freezing from occurring in the future.
Signs Your Shower Drain is Frozen
Detecting and promptly addressing a frozen bathroom drain is important due to the possibility of your pipes bursting if left alone. Signs to look out for include:
Slow drainage — If water is pooling in your shower and draining very slowly, it is highly likely that your drain is frozen and there is an ice blockage somewhere in your pipes.
Gurgling sounds — Strange noises, such as gurgling, bubbling, whistling, or banging, typically occur when water pushes past a partial blockage of ice.
Foul odours — Blockages in the pipes can cause backups which then cause bad smells to emanate from the drain.
Safety Precautions Before Starting
Before you begin to unfreeze your shower drain, there are some precautions that should be taken to ensure your safety:
Turn off the main water supply — Turning off the main water valve in your house reduces the pressure on the frozen pipe and minimizes the risk of flooding in case the pipe bursts.
Open the shower faucet — Leaving the faucet on/open relieves pressure and allows melting water to easily escape.
Ensure the shower is completely dry — Particularly if you decide to use an electric heat source, it’s crucial to ensure that your shower is dry to prevent electric shock.
Tools and Materials Needed
The tools and materials you’ll need to thaw a shower drain pipe depend on the thawing method you use. Therefore, this list encompasses everything from the different methods discussed in the next section:
Kettle
Measuring spoons/cups
Salt
Baking soda
Vinegar
Hair dryer/heat gun
Electric heat tape
Space heater
Step-by-Step Thawing Methods
The following are different methods that you can use for thawing frozen pipes safely. The first is the most effective, while the others are useful alternatives:
Boil water — Boil a large amount of water and add 1 cup of salt to it, making sure that the salt is completely dissolved.
Baking soda — While you wait for the water to boil, pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Make sure that it all gets into the drain instead of just sitting on top of it.
Vinegar — Pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain immediately after the baking soda. As the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, it will create a solution that bubbles and sizzles, which will then begin to remove frost buildup and clear the drain. In general, this also helps to clean the drain.
Pour boiling water — Slowly pour the boiling water down the drain once the vinegar/baking soda solution has stopped sizzling; don’t just dump it all at once, but maintain a consistent flow as long as you can.
Run hot water — Run hot water from your shower into the drain for at least 5 minutes to make sure that all frost is cleared and water is draining well.
Rather than pouring one large amount of boiling water and salt down your shower drain, another option is to pour small amounts every 5 to 10 minutes. This will gradually melt the ice and can reduce the possibility of the pipe cracking from a sudden and intense temperature shock.
Another alternative to the first option is aiming a hair dryer or heat gun at either the drain, directing heat down into the pipe, or at the frozen section of the pipe itself in order to gradually melt the ice.
If you are able to access the pipe itself instead of just the shower drain, electric heat tape is a good option. This way, you can wrap tape directly around the frozen section of the pipe to warm it up.
If the frozen pipe is located inside an enclosed space, like a cabinet, or an accessible area of the basement, you can place a small space heater near it as a way to slowly increase the temperature and defrost the pipe.
What NOT to Do
There are many ways that DIY shower drain defrosting can go wrong, so it is important that you don’t just follow the safety precautions previously discussed, but that you also avoid these two specific things:
Chemical drain openers — Chemical drain openers/cleaners should also be avoided since they too can damage your pipes, especially when sitting on a frozen area. Additionally, they’re simply not effective when dealing with ice blockages.
Open flames — Open flames, like that from a blowtorch, should be avoided at all costs. They are both a fire hazard and can damage your pipes, melting or cracking them.
Prevention Tips
In the future, there are some things that you can do to prevent frozen drains, such as:
Ensuring proper insulation — Check for cracks/gaps in the ceiling, walls, and floor, sealing openings to keep cold air out. If your pipes are exposed, you can also wrap insulation around them for added protection.
Cleaning the drain — Regular drain maintenance helps ensure that your pipes are unobstructed, minimizing the risk of blockages that could freeze.
Letting water drip from the faucet — Letting water steadily drip from the faucet can help prevent blockages and freezing as water continuously moves throughout your plumbing system.
Final Thoughts
While we’ve outlined how you can go about a frozen drain pipe fix in this article, please note that there are dangers to doing it yourself. At City Rooter, we offer 24/7 plumbing services to help you deal with any kind of emergency, day or night.
Fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you within 5-10 minutes. For emergency services, please call us directly at (647) 534-6875 for instant support.
