Thawing Out Frozen Conduits

[mobiledynamics]

I haven't even looked yet (conduit closest to the street pole). This is more low voltage (fiber, coax).
Between the below freezing temps, snow, (plowed to the right snow drift) and what not, I'm going to expect some level of this conduit to be frozen or even the conduit run.....there my be some portions with potentially some water:frozen in it.

IME, it's not uncommon for there to be water in it......

I've never had a use case till now but I'm curious. How do you guys deal with frozen conduits.
I suppose the only option is to just *wait it out* for optimal conditions...

 

[rlitman]

All I can say is the snow is your friend. Snow insulates the warm ground from the cold air and keeps the surface at 32F. Bare ground is where you need to be concerned.

 

[dcg9381]

If fiber (light) or co-ax (analog) freezes it doesn't matter.
I have PEX running through electrical conduit (don't ask). To "unfreeze" it I just pour some hot water over and into the conduit. Works pretty quickly. To prevent freeze, you insulate the **** out of it, or if you really need to to stay unfrozen you add self-regulating heat tape.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm confused, are you trying to pull something new or just worried in general that your conduit is cold?

 

[mobiledynamics]

trying to pull something in new

 

[PCustoms]

trying to pull something in new

I would start with getting the snow away from any open ends

Then see if you can **** a pull string through it

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I doubt there will be any ice below 12” of the grade so I don’t think OP will have a problem…….. I have worked outside in very cold temps and never encountered a conduit that was "blocked up" with ice that I could not pull through.

TIP! Get a tarp and put a heater under it to thaw around the outside of the conduit entry/exit.

 

[Bert_]

I've had frozen conduits when I tried to pull some wire. Once I poured hot water in it and was able to pull wire. Otherwise wait till spring when the frost goes out.

 

[mm08822]

If there is a pull line installed, you could check that it pulls free several feet/20 feet.

Another though is if there is frozen water, set up a blow dryer/heat gun with a hose on the end of it to duct the heated air into the conduit. Check the other end for air flow coming out. Use low heat as you could easily melt the hose or any exposed pvc (if it is pvc).

 

[sparky 1971]

I poured a couple of gallons of windshield washer fluid down both ends of a frozen pipe on a Friday and was able to pull wire through it on Monday.

 

[Bert_]

I poured a couple of gallons of windshield washer fluid down both ends of a frozen pipe on a Friday and was able to pull wire through it on Monday.

I like that idea

 

[alfredeneuman]

What if you used automotive anti-freeze?

 

[Firebrick43]

What if you used automotive anti-freeze?

Its better to use rv antifreeze, aka propylene glycol, as it is non toxic/food safe. I have used it before in a conduit, pour it in and wait a while. Methanol works well too. Which is about 50 percent of windshield washer fluid. Pure methanol works pretty fast.

 

[rlitman]

What if you used automotive anti-freeze?

I wouldn't do that unless it's propylene glycol based. Maybe RV antifreeze?

 

[Bad Habit]

Have you tried running a fish tape down it to see if there's ice (or anything for that matter) is blocking it?