Frozen: Waste Pipe

Congratulations (or rather, condolences), you likely have a frozen waste pipe.

A frozen waste pipe is a race against the clock. Act fast, use gentle heat, and never let desperation drive you to a flame thrower. Stay warm, and good luck un-gunking those pipes frozen waste pipe

If you have PVC or ABS plastic pipes and you know exactly where the blockage is (usually an uninsulated exterior wall or a crawlspace), you can try to thaw it yourself. Congratulations (or rather, condolences), you likely have a

On extreme "polar vortex" nights, run a tiny trickle of water through the fixture farthest from the street. Moving water takes much longer to freeze than standing water. However, remember that if the waste pipe is frozen, this will just fill your tub. Stay warm, and good luck un-gunking those pipes

You flush the toilet. The water rises. You wait. And wait. Instead of the satisfying swoosh of departure, you are met with a slow, ominous backflow.

There is a particular sound that strikes fear into the heart of a homeowner in mid-January. It’s not the creak of the stairs or the howl of the wind. It’s the gurgle .