Will Grated Drain Pipes Freeze in Winter?

BasementGutter™ Grated Drain Pipes are designed to be installed inside the home, where your home’s insulation protects them from the worst of the chill. Exterior drains will freeze in winter, although this can be mitigated through certain measures, such as salting the drains. Interior basement drains should remain free of ice, even if the basement isn’t properly insulated. 

One of the reasons why JES highly recommends installing interior drains is for this very reason. 

Interior Drains: A Freeze-Free Solution 

Interior drains won’t freeze, which is essential for keeping the basement free of water in cold weather. 

Our winters may see snowfall, but ice rarely penetrates the earth more than a few feet in our area. 

Even still, the peace of mind our drainage solutions provide is valuable. Plus, moisture can still seep into your basement during winter, and once spring hits and the ice melts there will be even more water to deal with. 

JES recommends a basement sump pump to ensure all water is efficiently discharged from your basement drainage network! 

The Importance of Keeping Drains Ice-Free 

As water freezes, it expands. Drains will grow full blocks of ice that can damage the drainage network and block discharge lines – not only with ice, but trapped debris as well. This can cause an overflow of water, which may push water back into your home or cause exterior gutters to overflow. Triggering flooding, inside and out, and further issues with ice.