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TIL my basement sump pump line froze solid in February

I was down there checking the furnace filter when I heard a weird gurgle... the backup pump kicked on and water just started pooling in the corner. Had to run a space heater and a hair dryer on the exterior pipe for like two hours to thaw it. Anyone in Mill Woods have a better fix for this?
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2 Comments
the_luna
the_luna1mo agoMost Upvoted
Mila's foam sleeve idea is good for prevention. I had the same gurgle and flood last year. What finally worked for me was wrapping the pipe with heat tape first, then putting the foam insulation over that. Plug the heat tape into an outdoor outlet and it keeps just enough warmth to stop a freeze. I haven't had a problem since I set it up that way.
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mila_mitchell
Read about insulating that pipe with foam sleeves before winter hits.
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