Will A Toilet Flush If Pipes Are Frozen? (Find Out Now!)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

A couple of years ago (or maybe earlier?) there was a massive power failure that cause Texans to lose heat to their homes. When this happened, most people experienced pipes that froze. Sometimes, they even burst and destroyed the house they lived in. Worried about your toilet’s ability to flush during cold weather? You’re not alone.

If your pipes are frozen near the toilet, it will not flush. In fact, any piping that could be frozen could cause your toilet to be unflushable. If the pipes that send water to the toilet tank are frozen solid, the toilet will be unable to keep water in the bowl after that first flush.

Frozen pipes are a serious threat to a home’s wellbeing, especially when it comes to plumbing. If you are worried about the potentially devastating effects of a frozen pipe, keep reading this article.

Do You Need to Install or Repair a Toilet?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

How Do Frozen Pipes Impact Your Toilet?

Frozen pipes are a serious threat to your home. That’s why so many families in Texas had serious damage after that one winter storm. You might be wondering how, exactly, a frozen pipe can harm your toilet’s ability to work. Here’s the basic scoop:

  • Frozen pipes will prevent water coming into your toilet. In order for your toilet to flush, it needs a fresh supply of water. Frozen pipes mean that the water inside is frozen. This acts as a temporary clog that (hopefully) goes away once the weather heats up.
  • It also can prevent water from leaving your toilet. If the pipe that leaves your toilet is iced up, you probably aren’t going to be able to flush your toilet. This can leave clogs or an overflow if you try to flush.
  • In some cases, you might also end up with a burst pipe. A clog in your piping paired with ice can easily stress out the plumbing until it breaks. This is one of the more common reasons for a call to the homeowners’ insurance company.

Is It Possible To Flush When Your Pipes Are Frozen?

In most cases, homeowners will be able to clear out their bowls once before they find themselves unable to flush their toilets. Because frozen pipes can cause your toilet to overflow, we do not suggest flushing it if you suspect that you have frozen plumbing.

How Do You Unfreeze A Frozen Toilet?

There are several remedies you can use to get your toilet unfrozen, but we want to emphasize that not all pipes can be unfrozen. These tips can help you “unstick” your pipes:

  • Use hot water. Pouring hot water down the drain is a good way to break apart some ice in the tank. You can also pour the water into the toilet tank to try to get the water supply you need to flush.
  • Consider using heat. Crank up the heat inside your home if you can. In many cases, you can thaw out the pipes by getting your home warmed up. This is the gentlest, most reliable way to unfreeze your toilet.
  • Wrap the pipes in rags and use hot water on them. This is another way to make sure that your pipes don’t break. It also happens to be faster than turning the heat up in your home.
  • Wait it out. I know this is not the answer that you want to hear, but it works for a reason.
  • Use a space heater. Space heaters are superb at unfreezing pipes, and they are remarkably easy to place, too!

How Do You Figure Out Which Pipe Is Frozen?

A visual or tactile inspection is all you need. In a lot of cases, you’ll see a light coat of frost around the pipe. If you touch a frozen pipe, it will be extremely cold to the touch, too. It may also feel denser if you tap on it with a screwdriver.

How Can You Prevent Pipes From Freezing?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure with frozen pipes. Anyone who’s lived in the northern part of the country will tell you that. Here’s how you can avoid this stuff happening to you:

  • Invest in lots of insulation. A well-insulated home is a home that won’t have frozen pipes too often. Even if it means wrapping the pipes in some foam insulator, you’ll find that a little bit of extra padding goes a long way.
  • If you have metal pipes, consider getting PVC instead. Metal is more prone to freezing. While it is not always a doable option, having PVC can reduce the chances of your pipes getting frozen solid.
  • Consider burying your outdoor pipes under extra dirt. Outdoor pipes are prone to freezing, but that doesn’t mean you need to tolerate it. If you have ground piping, then you might want to add extra dirt on top.
  • And if you have a mobile home, consider adding some heat tape. Heat tape is basically your number one tool against frozen pipes as a mobile home owner. This is what will keep the pipes under your unit heated while storms and snow make others’ freeze.
  • If you have tons of outdoor pipes on the side of your home, consider getting a shelter for them. A small cabinet-like box is more than enough in most cases. Even then, it’s highly unusual for this to be an issue.

Should You Call A Plumber?

While there are plenty of times to call a plumber, frozen toilets are not one of those times. Rather, you should consider talking to a plumber about adding more insulation to your pipes before the next storm hits. It’s the best way to prevent a serious problem later on.

Of course, if you have a plumbing emergency like a burst pipe, you need to call a plumber. Be careful, though. Emergency plumbing services can cost an arm and a leg. So, we strongly suggest preventing this from happening at all costs.

Do You Need to Install or Repair a Toilet?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.


Related Questions

Do frozen pipes always burst?

While frozen pipes might seem like they are always on the verge of popping, this isn’t quite true. Most frozen pipes are not going to burst. However, if the pressure builds up to the point where water can’t escape and there’s too much stuff in a part of the plumbing, it can and will burst.


How long does it take for a frozen pipe to burst?

A frozen pipe takes a lot longer for it to burst than you would expect it to. On average, it can take anywhere from four to five hours for a pipe to explode as a result of freezing. If you notice that your pipes are starting to warp or you notice that there is significant swelling or cracking in the pipes, you need to call an emergency plumber immediately.


How long does it take to unfreeze a frozen plumbing pipe?

Though it can take a while for a pipe to burst, thawing out that frozen pipe doesn’t have to take too long. A frozen pipe can take as little as 30 minutes to thaw out. Particularly large pipes can take a little bit longer, around 45 minutes to an hour. If you are not sure which method to use, stick to the tried and true for speedy results.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

More by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Next