I have read the questions and answers about preventing plumbing stacks from freezing up, but what about one that already is frozen. The drains in the upstairs bathroom were making a gurgling sound every time we flushed the toilet. This has been going on for a week of so. Now we have a sewer smess in that bathroom. The stack is probably frozen as it has been very cold here in Manitoba for a couple weeks. Our roof has a very steep pitch and with all the snow up there it's very dangerous to be up there attempting to pour hot water down the stack. Any other suggestions to eliminate the ice build up?

Go to your attic. Take electric blanket, wrap it around the pipe several times, secure it with duct tape, plug it in, and let it slowly warm it up.

Vents freeze because moist, sewer gas rises through our sewer pipes. Moisture in those gases will than accumulate on the walls of the vents, freeze, and eventually builds up to the point where it completely encloses the entire vent opening.

There are few hi-tech devices to deal with vent freezing. In case you'd be interested in this information, I am enclosing link for you to read.

Frozen Vent Stack and Water Lines

Let us know how you did...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

Go to your attic. Take electric blanket, wrap it around the pipe several times, secure it with duct tape, plug it in, and let it slowly warm it up.

Vents freeze because moist, sewer gas rises through our sewer pipes. Moisture in those gases will than accumulate on the walls of the vents, freeze, and eventually builds up to the point where it completely encloses the entire vent opening.

There are few hi-tech devices to deal with vent freezing. In case you'd be interested in this information, I am enclosing link for you to read.

Frozen Vent Stack and Water Lines

Let us know how you did...

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I don't have an electirc banket but I do have a heating pad. I left if on the pipe over night and it did the trick. Thanks for the tip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kiisa

I don't have an electric blanket but I do have a heating pad. I left if on the pipe over night and it did the trick. Thanks for the tip.

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That's what I meant - just different terminology. You may buy one extra heating pad and leave it there in winter time wrapped around the pipe and activate it when it gets very cold.

Glad to be of help...