Up here in the Northeast the weather has been extremely cold. My neighbor’s house ( a weekender) had his septic pipe frozen due to lack of use. Any suggestions on defrosting the line. (Other than waiting till spring.) We have tried several methods to no avail including:
-Placing a hot water heating element in the drain pipe and heating the water.
-An electric rooter.
-an electric fan w/heater in the septic tank
-a fire over the top of the septic pipe
Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Steve
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Replies
Run a hose into the drain line from the septic tank end. Make sure the end of the hose is right up against the ice. Run hot water through the hose. This way all the melt water runs into the septic tank instead of backing up into the house. Adjust the hose periodically to make sure then end is right up against the ice.
Thanks for your quick response. I was hoping to do it from the inside of the house as getting in to the septic is too difficult. Do you think I can do it from inside if I force a hose down the pipe and pump hot water on the blockage?
Steve
Is the drain completely blocked or are you just seeing slow drainage?
Completely blocked.
The reason I suggested doing it from the septic tank end was just so the water would have somewhere to go. If you have a shop vac or a pump or some way of dealing with the backwash, or if you're willing to let the water back up into the basement, :( then I can't think of any reason not to do it from the inside. Tim's idea sounded good, if I understood it correctly. Plug the line with one of those inflateable plugs so the water can't get back in the house and let the backwash come out the exterior cleanout.
The important thing, if you want it cleared in a timely manner, is to get the hot water as close to the ice as possible. If the drain line is full of gallons of cool to cold water, pouring hot water in the drain 30' away, or more, won't help much.
Also, as Tim mentioned, the drain line should never freeze, because the waste water should all drain out before it gets that cold. Which suggests the ugly possibility that frost heave has collapsed your drain line. :(
Actually the drain line should not be holding water . Imsure you knew that .
Dunc is right. A hot water hose off the washer will make quick work of it . If there is a cleanout above the freeze the water will come to the top of the ground. Judgeing from how long it takes hot water to thaw a bunch of ice in a sink , should be quick work. I think it needs pressure from above because its holding water. They make a rubber thing that isused for clogs that I use on rentals all the time. It will use the hose pressure with out back flow.
Tim Mooney
Thank you one and all for your prompt replies. I will be attempting a solution shortly. But believe that your solutions look great.
Again thanks.
Steve
"Again thanks."
Its a pleasure helping people like this which should be considered a role model . Unlike the Nanny Gee thread on DIYs
Tim Mooney
Do you know what a "jetter" is?......in plumbing terms, I mean. It consists of a small diameter high pressure hose (about 3/8" OD) with one of an assortment of brass tips on it for resolving a wide array of blockage problems by directing a small stream of high pressure water at the blockage and then scrubbing out the pipe.
Although the "regulation" power behind this hose is an adjustable pulsating power washer device, for your purposes a simple power washer somewhere in the 700-1000 psi range will do the job. If you can lay your hands on one of these hoses or the whole outfit from a local plumber or rental outlet, you should be on your way.
I'd suggest the tip with one hole that faces forward and three holes around the outside perimeter as it not only bores a hole for itself, but the threee holes around the edge are angled backwards and serve to propel the hose down the pipe. When you drag it slowly backwards, it scrubs the remainder of the pipe clean.
Since the GPM output on this array is reasonably small, you may get a hole bored before any or much water backs up on you. If it does back up, I'd try to catch it in a bucket or something.
I'd gladly loan you my 75 ft. worth, but the trip might be prohibitive.
Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 2/3/2003 9:55:10 PM ET by GOLDHILLER
I am interest in how deep the line is - the line to the tank should not have any fluid in it as it should be slightly sloped to the tank. However, there could be a problem with the slope or something else.
I agree that the drain line should not have any water in it however a slow drip may result in ice blockage especially over a few days.
I have freed drains and traps with salamander heaters and tenting areas. I would suggest a pressure test on the line to determine if there was damage.
I'm no plumber but have had an unfortunate experience such as yours. Just keep working it and don't give up, you'll get it.
Let us know how you make out.
first of all if you can get to clean out to septic tank use a hot water. The only trouble I have found with the ordinary garden hose is it get very soft with hot water and won't push.
If you get a hose for a sump pump that hard plastic one It come in roles of 100 ft or more and it is cheep that should help keep it going down the drain line.
the next problem is you run out of hot water very quick. If I could I would rent a hot water high pressure washer that way you won't run out of hot water and have more pressure to help cut through the ice.
Does this system have a drain field or a pump inside the tank? Do you know for certain exactly where it has frozen? I have done this with a high quality very firm garden hose connected to the bottom drain on the hot water heater with a shut off valve. Onthe working end of the hose I installed one of those small tipped pressure nozzles. They screw directly onto the hose end and are about an inch and a half long and reduce the opening to about 1/4 inch. These can be found at any hardware store. Shove it in and push it against the ice. Put full square bails of hay on the ground over the area of the freeze to prevent future problems.
Unfortunatly I am more than familiar with this. Canadian Eh. These colder than normal temps this past few weeks have caused havoc with septic beds around here. This is what we have found working to thaw a few nieghbours beds in the last week.
Drain lines don't freeze but traps are very suseptable.
The elevation of the sludges and liquids in the tank can actually freeze at the discharge level or below. Again depends how full the tank is.
The first section of the leachate beds and discharge line from the septic tank may have seen freezing temps due to the subzero temps. depending on how deep or shallow they were set. Newer beds are being set slightly higher than in the past.
Start eliminating cause by first pumping out the tank. If it is not frozen anywhere at that level it will pump.
Although not great for the bed the quickest way to thaw a line is to pour windshield washer antifreeze mixed with disolved road salt down the frozen line. Liquid calcium chloride will do the trick if you can find it. Be patient and keep heating the line with as many common hair blowers as you can get your hand on. Heat with air until warm to the touch and continue on down the line.
Good Luck A cold Canuck
well is it fixed yet?
Here's something I tried and it worked great. Rent or hire a pressure washer. The fellow we hired to do a similiar job had a special nozzle for his van mounted machine just for clearing up these type of blockages. It went real quick, very little mess due to the fact that he used high pressure with low gallons per minute. Good luck.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights