| ✅ | ❌ DON’T | | --- | --- | | Try pouring a gallon of very hot (not boiling) water down the drain. | Use a propane torch or open flame on metal pipes. | | Use a hair dryer on the drain opening and trap area. | Pour boiling water directly into a porcelain tub (can crack it). | | Add rock salt (ice melt) to the water in the tub. | Use chemical drain cleaners – they won’t work on ice and can splash back. | | Run a space heater near the access panel or exposed pipe. | Keep running water if it’s not draining – it will overflow. |
If you are reading this because you are currently standing in ankle-deep cold water, staring at a drain that refuses to cooperate, take a deep breath. I spent the last 48 hours living this nightmare, and here is the long version of how it went down, what didn’t work, and what finally saved my pipes (and my sanity). frozen tub drain
Once the water drained, I kept the hot water running for a good ten minutes to ensure all residual ice in the pipe was gone. Then, I tackled the root cause. | ✅ | ❌ DON’T | | ---