I need Help!!!!

[adreamer2]

I just need a little advice on how to melt really thick ice......


Over the winter, my pipes froze in my basement and water filled up to 3 feet down there.

During the deep freeze, we had no idea that all that froze that was in the basement.....

I'm talking floating debris and everything....... frozen... suspended.....

Anyhooo.....


We had to have the water turned off....

How can I unthaw all that water in the basement.....

I have a pump ready to remove the water...... but I can't get through the ice.....

Any ideas......

Bad thing is... I'm not the only person this happened to.....

Need help guys.... whatever you can offer.....

I was thinking about throwing some rock salt, but it will only fall on the debris......

What a waste of the things that were down there.....

I had bought my son a 1100.00 motorbike.... and it is flooded and frozen now..... under solid ice...

What can I do?

Thx,
adreamer2

[LadySusan]

Maybe get a space heater down there and let it run for awhile?

[Eugeneg]

I had bought my son a 1100.00 motorbike.... and it is flooded and frozen now..... under solid ice...

What can I do?

I hope you are not kidding .
1 Get an electrical contractor right away . He will be aware of the dangers .Let him install some groundfoult recepticles . Only then walk down but have a rope around yourself and someone to drag you out in case of emegency meaning an electric shock if more than a 110 volts possible exposure do not even do that . Wear rubber boots and anything you touch do with right hand as that is opposite to heart . I t would be better to get advice from fire Dept . Open all windows and put in heater propane or electrical and cattle water deicer makinng sure that everything is plugged in to ground fault recepticles . Use fans to help blow the condensation out , If you have sufficient water start pumping out
Regards
Eugene

[Eugeneg]

I had bought my son a 1100.00 motorbike.... and it is flooded and frozen now..... under solid ice...

What can I do?

I hope you are not kidding .
1 Get an electrical contractor right away . He will be aware of the dangers .Let him install some groundfoult recepticles . Only then walk down but have a rope around yourself and someone to drag you out in case of emegency meaning an electric shock if more than a 110 volts possible exposure do not even do that . Wear rubber boots and anything you touch do with right hand as that is opposite to heart . I t would be better to get advice from fire Dept . Open all windows and put in heater propane or electrical and cattle water deicer makinng sure that everything is plugged in to ground fault recepticles . Use fans to help blow the condensation out , If you have sufficient water start pumping out
Regards
Eugene

[elunned]

I just returned from a jaunt to Northern Minnesota - it has been a pretty rough winter, since they had no snow cover most of the season (and temps of -40d F). Septic tanks and fields froze! Anyway, my aunt and uncle have subfloor heating using circulating water. I'm a bit fuzzy on the how (my uncle was trying to conserve heat and shut something off), but the pipes froze. They used electric pump house heaters to thaw out the different zones. They are apparently energy hogs, but effective and rugged heating units. 500 watt models cost under $100, and you may be able to rent them - or something comparable. Propane heaters also kick out serious heat, but you need ventilation.

However, I agree with Eugene. Since you have 3 FEET of water, I would proceed with caution - water and electricity do NOT mix.

I'm assuming that insurance won't cover the damage? I think burst pipes are often specifically excluded. If the damage is covered, the adjustor should have recomendations on how you should proceed.

Good luck! (I have a new-found respect for winter.)

[Sangreaal]

If there is a possibility of electrical shock, go to the breaker box and shut off the power to the basement before entering. When the water thaws it'll no doubt create an overload if the waterline is over any outlets. Of course, this may have already happened when the water entered to begin with, so this all might be a moot point...

...just make sure there's no electricity available to the basement before you start heating to make the water thaw. Once it's thawed, pump it out with a sump pump and place plenty of fans all over the basement to dry the area out quickly so mold is either eliminated or kept to a minimum. Mold is bad. You don't want mold...

Marie

[MikeM]

??? Is this for real? I know Pittsburgh gets cold, but its not the Arctic. Water in a basement frozen solid for 3 feet? A koi pond covered with plastic doesn't do that in Pennsylvania... and not for so long. Time to wake up, dreamer.

[PapaBear]

As big a tightwad/diy'er as I am, I'd be calling an electrician and plumber if I was you. Lots of potential for injury and personal liability here.
Also, I think Mike has a pretty good point about how much is actually frozen. Freezing a 3' deep block of ice in a basement is no small trick as underground temperatures don't cooperate with that. More likely you have liquid water below with a sheet of ice less than 6" thick on top.

[Gail]

I am the side with Mike here.3 feet frozen solid seems a tad drastic? YOu are the only one it happened to? I have friends in PA, they had snow.but that was it, and they have ponds that didn't ice over!
I could see 3 feet of water, but not frozen solid.