Thaw a Frozen Downspout

Lead Image for Thaw a Frozen Downspout
  • 1-4 hours
  • Beginner
  • 20-80
What You'll Need
Hair dryer
Ice Melt
Screw Driver
Ladder
What You'll Need
Hair dryer
Ice Melt
Screw Driver
Ladder

A Downspout is an integral part of a home's gutter system. The downspout is responsible for taking the water collected by the gutters and dispersing it out and away from the home's foundation. If you live in a colder part of the world, you may run into a situation where your downspouts become frozen. In order to thaw your frozen downspout, you must do the following.

Step 1 - Get Out the Hair Dryer

If the frozen portion of your downspout is on the ground level and if it is near an outlet, you can simply plug in your hairdryer to an extension cord and warm up the portion of the downspout that has become frozen. Once the ice has melted, it will drop the remaining ice through the spout. If your spouts are underground, you will want to detach the portion of the above-grade downspout with a screwdriver first, otherwise, the ice will just sink below grade and you will have to dig it up.

Step 2 - Use Ice Melt

Get on the ladder and climb up to the top of the downspouts. Sprinkle a little bit of ice melt or winter road salt and around the downspout. The ice melt will help to thaw the downspout.