He tried the plunger. Thump-thump. Nothing. The water didn't even ripple. It was solid.

The good news: With the right techniques, you can often thaw a frozen drain pipe yourself without calling a plumber. Here’s how to do it safely.

Crack.

If the frozen section is visible (e.g., in a basement or crawlspace), direct heat is very effective.

If you, like Elias, find yourself with a frozen drain pipe, here is the technical breakdown of how to resolve it safely: