pour boiling water directly into the tub. If the trap is frozen solid, the boiling water will sit on top of the ice, potentially cracking the porcelain due to thermal shock.

A frozen tub drain isn't just an inconvenience—it can be a disaster. When you run water to try to melt the ice, the water has nowhere to go. It backs up into the tub.

While most homeowners obsess over their supply lines (the pipes bringing water in ), the drainage system (taking water out ) is often overlooked until it’s too late. A frozen bathtub drain is a messy, potentially expensive emergency, but it is one that can be understood, fixed, and prevented.