Plumbing Question 22
Question:
I have a frozen water line between the outside meter and my house. I think its frozen underground as it starts to enter through the slab foundation. That being the case, can I fill the toilet tanks with water and still use and flush without causing any damage to the waste line? It’s bad enough we cant do dishes, and get water from the faucets, but I was hoping we could still do our business with the toilets if I keep filling tanks for flushing.
Answer:
Yes, you can dump water in the toilet tank to flush it. Drain lines, especially ABS or PVC usually don’t freeze up since the water is only in there a short time as it flows downhill. They sell electric heaters which you can install on your water line to thaw out your water main. If you leave an outside hose bib/faucet slightly open at night, (dripping into a bucket), you can prevent the line from freezing.