Many homeowners depend on sump pumps to get water out of their basements. However, a frozen sump pump can cause significant worry , it is simple to solve.During the spring and fall months, sump pumps seem to be invaluable.
This is caused by the fact that melting snow and rainstorms often coincide. As a result, basement flooding becomes a very real problem .Cold temperatures frequently occur during these months which may lead to a frozen sump pump drain line. As the drain line is frozen, the sump pump will fail , leading to potentially severe and costly problems. Fortunately, with patience and time, it is possible to thaw the pump's line. Here some helpful instructions to fix the Frozen Sump Pump Line.
Instructions
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Turn off the power to the sump pump at the circuit breaker.
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Inspect the discharge area outside your house. Look for ice blocking the end of the sump pump discharge line and remove any obstructions.
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If the ice is very near the discharge line end , use a space heater next to the drain opening and allow it to remain there for an hour.
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You can also use a hair dryer to blow hot air into the opening of the drain. If you believe the ice is too far away to be melted by the previous steps , proceed to steps 5 through 7.
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Empty the remaining water from the sump pit . If you have a small submersible pump , use it to discharge the water from the sump pit. You can use a cup and bucket to physically bail out the water.
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Use a screwdriver or small wrench to remove the discharge line from the sump pump.
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Boil a large pot of water.
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Carefully pour the boiling water into the discharge line.
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If the water begins to be collected into the sump pump pit, remove it as needed.
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Continue pouring boiling water down the sump pump’s drain line until the ice thaws and water drains freely. It may take some of your effort before the ice is completely melted. The water should drain freely once the ice has been thawed.
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Reconnect the discharge line to your sump pump. Turn on the power to the sump pump.
