It may be March, but don’t count on Winter being over yet!

A frozen sewer line can close down a drain system and cause a lot of inconvenience. Here are a few potential indicators that your home may have a frozen sewer line:

• Your home’s toilet(s) won’t flush
• Your home’s drains have stopped functioning

Typically, domestic plumbing can endure cold weather; however, if the plumbing is not used often (which keeps it warm), it is easy for ice to form when water passes through. When that ice forms, you will end up with an ice blockage.

Some situations that may cause your drains to freeze:

• Poor pipe installation, and lack of insulation
• A sudden drop in temperature, and no water flow in an exposed drainpipe
• Improper thermostat setting – insufficient heat inside the building.
• The sewer line is routed to an unheated crawl space.
• Pipes that run through attics, alongside walls, or in unheated garages, especially when there are openings that allow cold air to flow across the pipe. 

So, besides your drains not working and your toilets not flushing, what else can happen if your home has a frozen sewer line and isn’t properly thawed out? Unfortunately, if left untreated, your home’s pipes could break, causing expensive repairs.

Prevention tips:

• Add insulation around your homes exposed pipes
• Fix any leaking faucets
• Use your drains regularly when temperatures drop to generate heat. 

Feel like you may need professional help to tackle frozen drain line issues? Call on Alaska Sewer & Drain to help you fix your frozen sewer line! Visit our website, or give us a call!