Frozen pipes in Houston. Is it safe to flush my toilet?

[Bucky]

I honestly don't know how plumbing works.. but for the first time in my life I have frozen pipes. I have to poop and I'm not liking my options. If the incoming water pipes are frozen, does that mean the outgoing pipes are also frozen? This is not situation I want to be stopped up in

(FYI, there's no nearby stores or restaurants open where I can go "to go" )

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Only once

If anyone has a better answer, please step in.

[Bucky]

16. thanks

I've got enough spare water to refill the toilet. So I get multiple flushes.

[frazzled]

2. Keep a small stream of water flowing in your faucets

It will help prevent your pipes from freezing. I guess it’s too late for that?

[Bucky]

13. Yep, too late. I did the insulation thing on the outdoor pipes, but not enought

The city's on low water pressure citywide, so I'm reckoning a lot of people tried that dripping faucet thing.

[applegrove]

3. Keep a tap on a bit. I found that out after my pipes almost froze one time.

[blueinredohio]

12. Also open your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors

where your pipes are. The heat from the house will help them thaw and if you can get a small stream of water keep it going, that will help keep them from freezing. If you have a small stream catch some of the water in a container and pour into the toilet. That will flush it.

[Bucky]

17. will do

[mr_lebowski]

4. Do you own a shovel? nt

[Bucky]

15. all northerners are gonna laugh at this...

but there's not enough snow to shovel here I was able to rake my snow away, however...

It's a steady 19 degrees now. It's enough to freeze the pipes, but we're only getting driblets of snow.

[cos dem]

5. Sewer pipes should be fine. However, if the inlet is frozen, you may not be able to back-fill the

tank.

[Bucky]

18. All incoming water is froze up

but I've got spare buckets for that. I might could even wash my hair in morning before work. Thanks

[Blue Owl]

6. Are they 100% frozen -- or just slow?

Those of us here up north know the tricks -- keep the water running on drip or on a weak stream.

If they are already completely frozen, a hairdryer or heat gun applied to the pipes will spur some melting to help get them going.

Open cabinet doors/drawers where pipes are located to help warmer air circulate near the pipes.

You can probably flush the sewage safely but if the fill tank pipes are frozen it might not refill the tank.

[drray23]

7. flushing should be ok since the waste pipe has no liquid/matter in it until you flush.

It should flow through your waste pipe into your septic or city sewer. If you have water back at a faucet in your house but not at the toilet, you can fill a bucket with water and pour it into the toilet bowl. This will make your toilet flush.

[trc]

8. Crap away

If you can find any water flowing, fill a bucket and pour it rapidly directly into the toilet bowl. That is exactly how a toilet flushes: more water in the bowl than required causes the flushing action (acts just like a siphon draining the bowl). Gl

[soothsayer]

11. From up high

[rsdsharp]

23. It doesn't have to be high. In 1991 Des Moines' water works was flooded.

We were without water for 10 days. We flushed with the bucket method following the mantra:

If it’s yellow, let it mellow
If it’s brown, flush it down.

Just pour it in a steady stream.

[soothsayer]

28. Interesting! I based it on an episode of 90 day fianc in Mexico where the toilet had no tank

I had no idea that was a thing. But good to know you can avoid splashing

[rsdsharp]

32. You can (and should!). It has to be done fairly quickly.

About 2-3 seconds to empty the bucket.

[jmbar2]

9. If the turd is frozen

put it in the microwave for a few seconds before flushing.




NO - JUST JOKING!

[Bucky]

19. HAHAHA!!!

well played

[jmowreader]

29. Ken Paxton won't fit in a microwave

[jmbar2]

31. hahahahah

[yewberry]

10. New England native here.

It's usually the incoming pipes that freeze. If you flush your toilet, you'll drain the tank and it will not be able to refill. If the outgoing pipes are frozen, you will not be able to flush.

If you have water, you can usually 'bucket flush' a toilet when incoming pipes are frozen. Find a bucket and fill about halfway with water. Once you are ready to flush, pour the water directly into the bowl. You cannot do this slowly--it won't work. You may need a plunger to move material out past the S-bend.

[PJMcK]

14. Three thoughts

First, go to the bathroom and take care of your business. As noted above, the outflow won't freeze since there's nothing in it.

Second, stockpile some water if possible. Then turn off your incoming water main.

Lastly, pour RV anti-freeze (usually pink colored) into your sink drains, your bathtub & shower drains, your toilet tanks & bowls and the bottom of your dishwasher and washing machine. Be liberal dispensing the fluid.

When it's warmer, rinse out the anti-freeze and move to a warmer place with a progressive state government!

[Bucky]

20. THANKS to all my cold weather experienced Dems. You've brought relief to my ears...

among other parts.

[bamagal62]

22. When living in Atlanta,

One of our toilets froze. It was on an outside wall. I put a space heater near the toilet (the radiator type) and also got out the blow dryer. Worked like a charm. Then I stuffed towels and blankets behind the toilet to provide some insulation. Whatever I did worked and didn’t freeze up again. Keep those faucets dripping! Good luck!

[Chainfire]

21. Your toilet will flush once. Make it count!

[Fla Dem]

24. For those who pipes are not yet frozen. Fill your bath tub with water.

You’ll need the water to flush your toilet and for some limited personal hygiene cleaning.

Keep a bucket in you bathroom to flush the toilet with the water in the tub. Dump it in the toilet fast to create a force as if you were using the flush.

Also you can fill a sink with the water to do some personal cleaning.

Fill other containers to have water for your pets.

Good luck.

[doc03]

25. The worse part of your pipes freezing is when they thaw. When the water freezes it expands and

can burst your pipes then when they thaw you get the leaks. I don't think it would hurt to flush but if you have no water
it would only be good for one flush once the tank is empty..

[Worried2020]

26. I have a solution that many, if not most will find repulsive,

.
.

however, I used it for years and it works.

Poverty forced me to live for years without running water, and definitely no flushing toilet.

I used a portable toilet - dry.

Lined the toilet with a few layers of magazine and or newspaper cut to size, covered when business done with other layers, removed and placed in plastic bags for storage/disposal. Place new slices of paper in bowl in preparation for next time

Being male, hung the water spout over the edge of the toilet seat to do the fluid drain thingy in another container . . .

Females may need to improvise more . . .

Surprisingly enuf, odor only lasts a few minutes, and soon never noticed it.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!



W

[rickford66]

27. Use a hair dryer if the frozen pipe is accessable.

I have a freeze proof outside spigot which freezes occasionally. I use the hair dryer where the pipe exits the foundation in the basement. This is safer than using a propane torch.

[jmowreader]

30. This won't help you for now...

To protect against this happening again, take a vacation to a city that gets cold in the winter. Visit the Home Depot for some freeze tape. This stuff heats up when you plug it in. It is sold in the plumbing department. Wrap the freeze tape around your pipes from the point they leave the ground to the point it enters the structure (unless you’re on a slab, and then you can’t). When winter comes, plug it in and leave it on until spring.