Gutter Drain Pipe Frozen

Turn on a garden hose to its most powerful setting and run water through the drain pipe.

Gutter drain pipe frozen.

Lay out the pipe lengths and fittings. Add a steeper slope to your piping. Here are 3 tips to help prevent freezing of those pipes. The tubing needs to have a 1 4 of drop per foot of pipe.

Disconnect the gutter downspout from where it connects to the drain pipe. Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention. It also makes it harder to manage during cold climates. If you let your gutters dump water into your french drain you may find your french drain gets clogged with debris which will make it less effective.

Pitch of pipe and type of 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. Remove the guard at the other end of the drain pipe if there is one. Water is less likely to freeze inside your pipes if the flow of water is continuous.

The first tip has to do with the initial installation of the underground gutter extension. 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. Proper pitch in the drainage tubing is crucial. Over time the ice can back up into your gutters creating additional weight on your entire gutter system.

Unfortunately we have winters in minnesota and these water drainage systems can freeze. 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. Check to see if water and debris come out the other end of the pipe.