Bathtub Drain Freezing ((top)) Official

Plumbing systems need air to work. Vent pipes stick out of your roof to equalize pressure. However, if snow or ice blocks the roof vent, a vacuum can form. Sometimes, this prevents warm air from circulating down into the drain stack, leaving the pipes cold and susceptible to freezing.

The thin layer of organic sludge that lines your drain acts like a sponge. It holds moisture against the pipe wall. When freezing starts, that sludge creates a rough surface for ice crystals to latch onto. Within a few hours of your morning shower, a partial blockage can turn into a full ice dam. bathtub drain freezing

We tend to think of our plumbing as existing entirely inside the warm envelope of our home. But the bathtub drain is a trickster. Plumbing systems need air to work