Fort Collins · typical $200–$600
Frozen drain lines in Fort Collins
Northern Colorado gets longer, harder cold spells than Denver, and Fort Collins' mix of older homes with crawlspaces and newer homes with bonus rooms over garages gives drains plenty of cold places to sit.
Frozen drain line in Fort Collins?
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Frozen lines and thaw calls
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Where they freeze here
Older Old Town homes often have additions or back porches on crawlspaces, and the drains in them freeze first. Newer homes see frozen lines in bonus rooms over the garage and in furnace condensate lines that exit on the north or west side, where wind hits them.
Thaw first, then check
Once a plumber thaws the line, it's worth running a cable or camera through it. Ice sometimes forms behind a partial clog of grease or lint, and clearing just the ice leaves the cause in place.
Prevention that works
- Foam insulation on drains in crawlspaces and garages
- Closing crawlspace vents in winter
- Heat cable on condensate lines that have frozen before
- Keeping the garage door closed during cold snaps
Common questions
Can a sewer line freeze in Fort Collins?+
It's uncommon for a properly buried main, but shallow sections and lines in unheated spaces can freeze in long cold spells.
Should I pour hot water down a frozen drain?+
A little warm water is fine; boiling water can crack porcelain and old pipe. If it doesn't clear, call.
Does a frozen drain mean I also have a clog?+
Sometimes. A slow, partly clogged line freezes more easily, so it's worth checking after thawing.