Frozen drain line Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dalton Andrew

   
   2/8/2016 9:02 AM

   I installed a drain line in a practice green that holds water after rains, heavy irrigation or spring thaws. Do to an existing drain line that I tapped into, this drain is quite shallow 6" to top of pipe. Also this line is only 2" in diameter. Right now it appears to be somewhat frozen as water is draining very slow. Anyone know of any tricks to keeping shallow lines open. This line is only 30-40 feet long. Considering using a heated cord next winter, but wanted to ask before I did all that.
   
   Andrew Dalton
   Metamora Golf and Country Club

   
   
   
   
2. Kyle Rausch

   

   0 posts
   
   2/11/2016 11:02 AM

   Can the surface drainage be improved? I personally wouldn't use a heating cord, as it would subject the grass/soil to unnecessary freezing and thawing.

   
   
   
   
3. Jack Tripp

   

   3 posts
   
   2/11/2016 7:02 PM

   We use a heat tape in a shallow drain line and it works great. The drain line can not be lowered because the outlet point grade is not low enough to allow for a deeper pipe. A down spout heat tape does not give off enough heat to heat up the soil etc. The heat tape is barely warm to the touch with your hand. An occasional handful of rock salt will also help if the drain doesn't drain to some place where they salt would kill the vegetation. Tons of rock salt are flushed down the storm drains in the street when road salt is washed away if you are concerned about the environmental impact.
   
   Jack Tripp
   La Crosse Country Club
   Onalaska, WI

   
   
   
   
4. Patrick Reinhardt

   

   0 posts
   
   2/13/2016 3:02 PM

   Use hay bales on top of ground over drain line to insulate ground below to keep from thawing?

   
   
   
   
5. Dalton Andrew

   
   2/13/2016 10:02 PM

   I had a feeling it might freeze due to the depth of the outlet pipe. Surface drainage can't be improved right now.
   
   I think I will just fish a heated cord through the pipe next fall and turn it on only when there is a melt. The heated tape is a good idea too, but not sure how to apply it to a drain that is already installed.
   
   Andrew

   
   
   
   
6. Jack Tripp

   

   3 posts
   
   2/15/2016 6:02 PM

   Andrew,
   
   If you have a hot water pressure washer they work good for unthawing drain lines. They make a small hose that goes on the end of the gun you can thread through the pipe as the ice thaws. The hose is mainly made for cleaning grease residue off the inside of drainage pipes in buildings.
   
   Jack Tripp
   La Crosse Country Club
   Onalaska, WI

   
   
   
   
7. Dalton Andrew

   
   2/24/2016 7:02 AM

   Thanks for the replies. It has thawed out now and I have all season to think about next winter. I am leaning towards a heated cord and just not turning it on until there is a thaw to keep water moving through it.
   
   Andrew Dalton
   Metamora Golf and Country Club

   
   
   
   
8. Jack Tripp

   

   3 posts
   
   2/24/2016 7:02 PM

   Heated cords are controlled with a thermostat so they really only heat when needed. Don't get to far behind on ice buildup. They are not a flame thrower, so don't except a big hole to thawed in 24 hours after plugging it in.