white I have to ask, does this cold seem early this year? Seems to me at least, the past few years the really below zero temps waited until Jan/Feb... maybe it's just because we had such a great summer that it went from warm to cold so fast that I'm reading something into it... dunno.

Actually I think we are more back to the old days 'normal'. I can recall in the early 70's it was usually -40 by halloween. Lots of folks here used to drive their trucks on the river by then to get a last bunch of firewood.

I think it seems early because it's been a long time since it's been like this.

What strikes me as different this year is how long an autumn we had. Everyone kept talking about how long we had to get our yards cleaned up for the snowfall this year. Then we had a little snow. Then, WHAM! the temps hit bottom.

That's why we are all freezing up here.....no snow for insulation!

Y'all keep those temps up there were they belong! Mid 20's here....BRRR!

I was going to warm up the shop and skin a fox out last night. Figured when I got done cutting up a load of wood the garage would be warm and I could get a start on the dog. Had a good fire and everything going. I had spilled some beer on the freezer which was pretty close to the stove. After about 3 hours I went to check on the fox to see if it was still froze solid or if I could get a start on it. Heck the beer that I spilled was froze to the freezer! SO much for heating my shop up in -25. Next weeks supposed to get to the single digits. Guess my wife will have to shower around some body bags in the tub the next few days.

Makes sense, we've only been up here 10 years and it seemed the cold temps waited til Jan/Feb or so. And the fall WAS very long, heck we got most everything picked up this year and won't have too many surprises when it melts in the Spring.

I dont know but every year it seems I have to hang christmas lights at -20 the day or two after thanksgiving,so this seems normal.

Ken- How much snow do you guys have? how deep is your sewer line buried? or did it freeze under the house?

I dread hearing about these events b/c that means its not far away and work will get CRAZY here soon if the temps keep up and we dont get much more snow.

good luck getting it thawed out!

We have maybe 8 inches of snow and I don't recall how deep the line is. I think it's about 3 feet but could be more....or less. I'm hoping it froze right where it goes into the ground but I doubt that's the case. Too steep an angle at that point.


Here is the weather pattern that I have become used to. Cold October/November. Big snow dump just before Thanksgiving. Then a warm spell of 4-5 days, might even thaw a little. Week before Christmas gets really cold and hangs on through mid/late January with continuous small snow storms. February is nice. 40-60 below at night 10 below to zero during the days. Sunny and bright....except at night.

Your results will vary.

See what happens when you use too much toilet paper !! LMAO

Time to call in a Plumber !! I wonder how much it would cost to fly one in from Anchorage ??

How deep is your frostline up that a way ?

I don't know at this time of year. I think the problem originated from cold temperatures with little snow cover.

Is your sewer tank buried or are you on piped?

I've come back from a trip to the Dr. in December to a house with my entire sewer frozen. Is does suck.

-33 here at the house, waiting for a few more degrees + before I head out to check a snare line I have out.

Well, the situation just reminds me that an outhouse makes much more sense!
The rabbits have been visiting ours quite regularly, judging by the tracks.
The styrofoam seat still works like a charm ;o)
We are just waiting for a little more (relative) 'warmth' to clear the ice from the pipe and be functional again.
BTW, I have NOT been under the house. That is White's domain!
Kusko, we have a buried log crib.

OB the outhouse we had at our other cabin had a foam seat Much squishier and comfy than Styrofoam and just as warm!! lol

Here at the store we can either run from the cabin to the store or use our 'Luggalbe Loo' for "can't quite make it" trips!! lol

Well where the Ol' Blister is concerned I guess I have to say it all Depends.

Now THERE'S an option!

That was just wrong!! LMAO!!

Well, I can see you have a few options :..

1. Are you hooked up to the City Sewer or private Septic System ?
If it is a City sewer , I would call the DPW and tell them to start digging . Think "HEALTH & SAFETY" ! that usually is the only way to get the DPW to do anything this time of the year.

2. If you can get into the frozen in pipe area where it is under the house, assuming you have a Crawl Space with enough room to get around in, you might try wrapping the frozen pipe with electric pipe heater tape to warm up the pipe and free the clog.

3. Got any RV Antifreeze to pour down the drain ? That MIGHT work.

4. In the Spring or Summer, dig up that area , wrap the pipe with insulation and that electric heater tape and bury it 1 Foot below the Frost Line. That is really the only way to prevent frozen Sewer Pipes that are buried underground.

5. Another option would be to use Spray Foam insulation around the buried pipe. In the Summer, dig up that pipe and spray the foam insulation in the trench where the pipe tends to freeze up. Spray enough of that insulation in the trench so that the pipe is completely covered . I would say at least 12 inches of insulation would work well around the pipe.