Frozen Drains and Sewer Line Thawing

Northeast Wisconsin and U.P. winters freeze shallow lines, cabin laterals, and septic lines under plowed driveways. If the drains stopped after a cold snap, don't keep pouring chemicals or hot water into a line that has nowhere to go. Call our 24-hour sewer cleaners at (715) 732-0909. We thaw and clear frozen drain and sewer lines around Peshtigo, Marinette, Menominee, Crivitz, Coleman, Wausaukee, and the Green Bay metro.

Signs the line is frozen, not just clogged

• Drains stopped right after a stretch of below-zero nights
• The lowest drain in the house backs up first, and nothing gets past it
• It's a seasonal cabin that sat empty with little or no water running through it
• The line runs under a driveway or path that gets plowed, so there's no snow cover insulating it
• The line was already slow in the fall. A partly plugged line holds water, and standing water freezes first.

Where lines freeze most around here

• Cabin and camp laterals up north around Crivitz, Lakewood, and Wausaukee
• Septic inlet and outlet lines on country homes. See septic line cleaning.
• Shallow building sewers on older homes in Peshtigo and Marinette
• Lines with a sag or belly, where water sits in the low spot

What we do on a frozen line call

1. Ask where the line runs, where the cleanout is, and whether it's city sewer or septic.
2. Open the frozen section from a cleanout and work it until water moves again.
3. Clear any grease, sludge, or roots that helped it freeze, so the line drains fully instead of holding water.
4. If it keeps freezing in the same spot, we can run a camera to look for a sag or damage and locate it.

What not to do

• Don't pour antifreeze, salt, or drain chemicals into a septic system. They can harm the tank and the field.
• Don't use an open flame on plastic pipe.
• Don't keep running laundry or the dishwasher into a line that's backing up.

Keeping it from happening again

• Leave snow over the septic tank and field. Don't plow or pack it down.
• Keep vehicles off the line and the field in winter.
• Get a slow line cleaned in the fall, before the ground freezes.
• If the cabin sits empty, have a plan for the drains when you close it up.

Pricing

Simple clogs typically range from $250 – $450. Hydro jetting usually starts around $700 and above. Frozen lines vary with access and how much of the line is iced, so we'll talk through it on the phone and give you the number before we start.

Frequently asked questions

Can you thaw a frozen septic line?

Yes. We thaw and clear frozen septic inlet and outlet lines where we can get access from a cleanout. We don't pump tanks. If the tank itself is full, call your pumper too.

Should I keep a faucet dripping?

A small steady flow can help some lines, but a slow drip into a line that's already partly plugged can build ice. If the line is already slow, get it cleaned.

Are you open 24 hours in winter?

Yes. Call (715) 732-0909 any time. After a cold snap there can be a wait, so call early.

Do you come to cabins up north?

Yes. We take frozen line calls around Crivitz, Lakewood, Wausaukee, Amberg, and other towns within about 90 minutes of Peshtigo.

For everyday clogs, see drain and sewer cleaning.