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Household Hints & Help

Kaleva

(38,889 posts)

3. With cordless drill...

Reply to IrishAyes (Original post)

Thu Jan 9, 2014, 06:04 PM

Jan 2014

drill a small hole about where you think the lowest point any liquid may be. Have rags on the floor to catch spillage, wear gloves and have a container to catch the liquid as it streams out of the hole.

Once the liquid is gone, then cut the pipe down near the floor as you think the rock salt clump is above the floor.

You may be able to then thaw out the rest of the pipe by pouring very hot water in it after using rags to dab out as much water as you can before adding the hot water. When that water has cooled and if there still is a blockage, repeat the process.

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Highlight:

Desperately need a chemist(?) to help me out of the hole I dug. [View all] IrishAyes Jan 2014 OP

Does hot water disolve salt? angstlessk Jan 2014 #1

Apparently not this kind, once it's clumped. I spent a couple hours at it with a tea kettle, IrishAyes Jan 2014 #5

I can't help you, but these guys might be able to... Adsos Letter Jan 2014 #2

Thanks. That'll be my next stop. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #6

With cordless drill... Kaleva Jan 2014 #3

Okay. But I might have to wait another week until the ice jam melts away on its own first. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #7

I don't suppose a plumber's snake would work at this point? The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2014 #4

I bought a plumber's snake yesterday - should have one anyway - but I think IrishAyes Jan 2014 #8

Maybe the frozen water is stopping the hot water from disolving the salt???? angstlessk Jan 2014 #9

That really makes good sense. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #10

Hubby just pointed out your creativity. TxDemChem Jan 2014 #12

Thanks - if raging fear counts as creativity! I'm a hysterical mess. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #14

Okay, this is out of my every day chem lab duties, TxDemChem Jan 2014 #11

Thank you. I'm sure it will help when I return to the matter in a couple days. Very kind of you to IrishAyes Jan 2014 #13

I understand completely. TxDemChem Jan 2014 #15

Not to beat this horse to death, but IrishAyes Jan 2014 #16

I am so glad to hear you have begun to thaw! TxDemChem Jan 2014 #17

Hey, pass me a shot, would you? I could use one. Or a dozen. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #18

I shall happily pass along the bottle! TxDemChem Jan 2014 #19

Well, I'm a one-woman wrecking crew! IrishAyes Jan 2014 #20

And you didn't even have to hold a gun to his head! TxDemChem Jan 2014 #21

Now that most of the rock salt trap blockage has been cut out, the remaining pipe actually started IrishAyes Jan 2014 #22

Woo hoo ! We have some water! TxDemChem Jan 2014 #23

Thank you sincerely for helping me survive this. It became traumatic at points. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #24

Wow!!! That cabin will be quite the task. TxDemChem Jan 2014 #25

You're too kind. Believe me, FAR too kind! I'm the sort of friend your parents warned you about. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #26

Actually, you sound just like the friend my parents would want me to have! TxDemChem Jan 2014 #27

It's been lovely - I mean it. Thanks. IrishAyes Jan 2014 #28

House buying is crazy. TxDemChem Jan 2014 #29