Gutter Drain Pipe Frozen
Remove the guard at the other end of the drain pipe if there is one.
Gutter drain pipe frozen. Water is less likely to freeze inside your pipes if the flow of water is continuous. Here are 3 tips to help prevent freezing of those pipes. This can lead to your gutter and downspout tearing away from your roof or siding leading to more costly and larger problems such as water leaks and improper drainage. Digging a trench that deep is only practical when the end of the pipe drains into a dry well or is connected to an existing drain line.
Disconnect the gutter downspout from where it connects to the drain pipe. However consistently frozen or frozen solid downspouts may require immediate attention especially if weather conditions will be less than ideal for the foreseeable future. Check to see if water and debris come out the other end of the pipe. Unfortunately we have winters in minnesota and these water drainage systems can freeze.
Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention. Lay out the pipe lengths and fittings. Proper pitch in the drainage tubing is crucial. Turn on a garden hose to its most powerful setting and run water through the drain pipe.
Over time the ice may back up into your gutters themselves thereby creating extra weight on your entire guttering system. Frozen downspouts can cause costly damage. It also makes it harder to manage during cold climates. The only guaranteed way to keep the pipe from freezing is to bury it below the frost line which ranges between 32 and 48 inches in most areas of the snow belt.
The first tip has to do with the initial installation of the underground gutter extension. Pitch of pipe and type of pipe. The tubing needs to have a 1 4 of drop per foot of pipe.