frozen drain pipes

[Jon Jacobs]

I have a shop with a flat roof. The drain is 3" ABS. It gets frozen solid and breaks which results in flooding in the spring. I have been looking into heated pipe wrap for roofs and gutters. Has anyone dealt with this kind of thing ?

 

[Jackfre]

Natures power! I would use a product called Frostex. It is a blue cable and you could wrap the pipe with it. Now, it is one thing to keep the pipe itself from freezing, but where does this pipe terminate?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Natures power! I would use a product called Frostex. It is a blue cable and you could wrap the pipe with it. Now, it is one thing to keep the pipe itself from freezing, but where does this pipe terminate?

Hi, just outside the cement block wall about 2'.

 

[Iroc-Z]

I personally would run heat tape in the pipe.

 

[sberry]

Frostex in the pipe.

 

[ratdoggy]

Can you just put heat tape in the pipe;are they water proof?
I have the same kind of problem with a pipe that freezes at ground level and is a ***** to thaw.

 

[dfiler2]

It appears the water is not draining out of the pipe, does the end become blocked first? Covering the pipe outside might solve the problem and you wouldn't need to be maintaining the heat tape.

 

[sberry]

I agree about making sure the drain end is free but these can freeze small amounts of water to the walls as t goes and plug off before ever getting to the drain. Some outer insulation would help.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Can you just put heat tape in the pipe;are they water proof?
I have the same kind of problem with a pipe that freezes at ground level and is a ***** to thaw.

Yes its waterproof.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Thanks guys, Im on it.

 

[crf731]

While you have it apart, fix the slope or what ever is plugging the end of the pipe so it drains properly and can't freeze.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You do have to get the right kind of heat tape, some are designed to go inside the pipe and some aren't.

 

[Iroc-Z]

You do have to get the right kind of heat tape, some are designed to go inside the pipe and some aren't.

Sorry that is true. Make sure to find tape that can go on the inside of the pipe.

 

[Tim37]

Insulate your pipes after you heat tape them it will help alot

 

[jimindm]

I have a rear gutter on my house that gets no winter sun, it is blocked by a second story of my house. Several years ago we had a problem with ice build up in it. I bought some end of the year gutter heat wire.

100 feet of it gives me a loop in the gutter and loop down the drain spout. It works really well if I can get the leaves and debris out of the gutter before it freezes.