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Author:
Foster (Non-US)
We are having problems with our above ground sewer line freezing. It is a 4" line. We have a holding tank so the toilet does not get flushed with every use "if it's yellow let it mellow" theory. My question is if we are not flushing often enough does the toilet bowl siphon to the water level the bowl should be at even though we are not flushing? Could the bowl be siphoning into the line and slowly freezing in the line to the point the line freezes solid? We live in Manitoba Canada so we are dealing with very cold conditions. We have thawed the line out 3 times in the last 6 weeks and it is frozen again. Thanks for any insight you can offer.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Make sure the flapper is positively water-tight or it will allow escaping water to freeze. Otherwise, any 'liquid' introduced into the bowl will leave the bowl and freeze. Can you put a heat tape on the sewer line?
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Author:
packy (MA)
yeah, adding a cup of liquid to an already full toilet bowl will result in a cup of liquid overflowing the toilet trap. this liquid will trickle down the pipe and more than likely freeze.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The pipe can ONLY freeze if it is full of water to start with, or there is a slow flow that can freeze and slowly build up to dam the water flow in the pipe. Find out WHICH you have and then cure that problem.
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Author:
Foster (Non-US)
Thanks for the all the info. Did put heat tape on. We will see how that works. We wondered if we were getting some seepage from the trap. No more "let it mellow". Fingers crossed.
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
Why such a shallow sewer line?
Best Wishes
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Author:
Foster (Non-US)
Our house is a double wide modular. So we have above ground sewer line much like you would have with a house trailer. It's all thawed out now so here's hoping we have rectified the situation.
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