Can Cold Weather Clog Bathroom Drains?

Location

• Clogs typically occur inside sections of pipe that pass through wall areas that are not heated or are shut off from the bathroom's heat, such as walls behind cabinet and closet doors. More than one area of bathroom pipe may have a frozen clog.

Remedy

• Using a warming tool, such as hot air from a hairdryer, on the outside of a pipe at the frozen area melts the ice inside the pipe. Take care of all the suspected frozen areas of pipes before letting water into the drains. Then running hot water slowly down the drains will test whether or not the pipe remains clogged. If the drains back up with the water, feel the pipes on which you used a warming tool. If the pipes feel warm, the clog probably is farther down the line of drainpipe, and that section or sections of pipe need to be warmed until hot water can run freely down the drain.

Prevention Methods Outside Drainpipes

• Placing pipe wrapping on the outside of all pipes that are at risk of freezing can prevent future ice clogs. Pipes close to outside walls, behind cabinet or closet doors and in unheated basements are more susceptible to freezing that other pipes. Foam wrap typically is split up the side to allow users to fit it quickly and easily over pipes. Tape wrapping is another option, and it can be wrapped in more than one layer around pipes for extra protection. You also may use strips of old towels and other thick fabric to wrap pipes.

  Leaving the doors of bathroom cabinets and closets open allows some heat to enter those spaces, which helps to keep pipes in their walls from freezing. A fan in front of the open doors will circulate the bathroom's heat further protection against drainpipes freezing.

Prevention Methods Inside Drainpipes

• Running hot water down drains often helps to prevent icy clogs, especially in pipes that are not used often, such as in a downstairs bathroom or basement. On the coldest nights and days, pour some drain cleaner through the pipes that are most likely to freeze; the drain cleaner creates a warming effect.