Winter can be rough on your plumbing. Cold weather, holiday cooking, and heavier indoor water use combine to raise the risk of sewer problems. When things go wrong — frozen pipes, bursts, backups]the damage happens fast.

Here are the most common winter sewer emergencies and smart ways to avoid them.

1. Sewer line freeze & burst pipes

• Sewer pipes — not just water supply lines — can freeze when drainage slows or the soil is deeply frozen. Ice builds inside pipes and expands pressure until cracks or bursts occur. 

• Watch for slow drains, odd smells, gurgling sounds, or frost on exposed pipes in basements or crawl spaces. 

• Prevention: Inspect before winter. Add insulation to exposed sections. Repair weak or sagging pipes early. In freezing weather, let warm water run occasionally to keep flow moving. 

2. Grease clogs from holiday cooking

• Winter holidays often mean more cooking — and more grease down the drain. Hot grease cools, solidifies, then sticks to pipe walls. Food waste and soap cling to clumps, forming blockages.

• These clogs can build slowly and eventually clog main sewer lines — leading to backups. 

• Prevention: Never pour grease or cooking oil down sink drains. Use a container instead. Consider a grease-trap if your household cooks a lot. And before it gets cold: schedule a professional sewer line cleaning (e.g. hydro-jetting). 

3. Root intrusion and cracked pipes

• Even in winter, tree roots look for water — and sewer lines often offer moisture. Roots can slip into small cracks or loose joints, then grow and expand. 

• Frozen ground and dropped temperatures can worsen existing cracks. Before long, roots and soil pressure may cause major blockages or collapses. 

• Prevention: Do annual root-removal treatments. Use hydro-jetting to clear roots and build-up. Use camera-inspection to spot small cracks early — well before winter’s freeze-thaw cycle intensifies damage. 

4. Basement sewer backups

• When the main sewer line gets overwhelmed, sewage can back up into basements — a frequent winter risk. Frozen soils slow drainage, and holiday water usage + snowmelt increase stress on the system. 

• Early warning signs: slow drainage, gurgling floor drains, foul odors, or bubbling toilets. 

• Prevention: Install a back-water (backflow) valve. Clear basement drains before winter. Schedule a pre-winter sewer clean-out, and look out for early signs — act quickly before a full backup happens. 

5. Clogging of main sewer lines

• A frozen or blocked main sewer line is the worst-case winter scenario. It can cause toilets, sinks, showers — everything — to back up or drain slowly. 

• Causes: buildup of grease, tree roots, ice in pipes, soil pressure, or collapsing old pipes.

• Prevention: Get a yearly sewer-line inspection (camera check). Clean the main line with professional hydro-jetting before winter. Fix small cracks or weak spots before freezing temps hit — may save you thousands. 

Helpful habits to stay backup-free all winter

• Run warm water regularly to keep pipes clear — especially if drains are slow or flow seems weak.

• Never flush wipes or hygiene products down the drain. These block pipes easily. 

• Don’t pour grease or oil into sinks. Use a container and throw away or recycle grease. 

• Insulate exposed pipes and fix visible cracks before winter. 

• Clean your drains before heavy water use months (like holidays). If flow slows, act fast — don’t wait. 

• Many homeowners benefit from professional hydro-jetting every 1–2 years. It removes buildup and prepares pipes for freezing weather,

When to call a sewer emergency team

If you notice any of these:

• Water backing up in sinks, tubs, or basement drains

• Bubbling toilets or odd sewer smells

• Overflow or unusual sewage odours
  Then call a professional right away. Early response helps avoid flooding, structural damage, and costly repairs.

Reliable plumbing help — especially during cold months — can save you from serious winter headaches.

Drain Drainers offers some more services to help our customer 

• 24/7 Emergency Drain Cleaning And Emergency Strike Services
• Sewer Cleaning Services
• Sewer Line Replacement And Repair Servcies
• Professional Leak Detection Servcies
• Expert Hydro & Water Jetting Solutions
• Sump Pump Services
• Dye And Smoke Testing Services