Okay, I got a call from my sister-in-law that the kitchen sink was backing up and wouldn't drain in her mobile home. So I took out the trap and tried to snake out the PVC line, but it flows to the vent stack where it's glued in, and when I try to snake it, the snake always seems to go upward towards the roof. So, I have two possibilities and no solution yet for either. One, the line is clogged and needs to be snaked out, but how and from what access point? And two, maybe the drain line is frozen underneath the mobile home. We're in Cincinnati, so it's 5* F right now and there's 6"-8" of snow on the roof, so that seems a possibility also. Is it practical to put road salt down a PVC sewer drain line or will that corrode it or cause damage somewhere? The only vantage point I can imagine to try that would be from the top of the vent stack. Anyone with experience or ideas care to respond? Thanks
COMMUNITY FORUM
I can relate Brother. I have a 130-year-old cold house. My kitchen drain would freeze at times. Rock salt or road salt will not hurt PVC. However it may not help. I did try it once and after it warmed up to over freezing for a week or so it started draining. Did the salt help? Who knows? If it has not been too frozen too long try an electric heater under the sink. Just stay with it and watch for things getting too hot, I have used a hair dryer on the pipes. Again watch out for getting things too hot. Drains will usually not freeze un less they where slow or plugged to begin with. Make sure the house vents are closed around the foundation. I have one I have to block off with a bag of straw in a plastic sack or my bedroom floor gets too cold.
