Florina has some of the coldest winters in Greece, with snow and frost that last for weeks. For drainage this does not mean pipes burst every winter, but it does mean that some problems appear or get worse in the cold. Below we explain which ones and what to do.
How frost affects drainage
- The shallow parts of the network (yard, entrance, outdoor pipes, manholes near the surface) are more exposed to the cold than deeper pipes.
- Ground that freezes and thaws moves. Over the years joints can open or a section of pipe can sag, and then it traps debris or lets roots and soil in.
- Grease solidifies in the cold and sticks to the walls of outdoor pipes, narrowing the bore.
Signs that something is wrong
- The drain is slow or blocks only on very cold days and works again when it warms up.
- Damp or sinking ground in the yard above the pipe, especially after the snow melts.
- A smell, or water that stays high in the manhole.
- Gurgling from drains when water runs elsewhere in the house.
One of these signs does not prove the pipe is damaged, but if it keeps happening, a camera inspection is worth doing before it gets worse.
What not to do in winter
- Do not pour boiling water into a toilet or PVC pipes to thaw them: it can stress them.
- Do not use strong chemical drain cleaners when water is not draining at all. They sit in the pipe without reaching the obstruction.
- Do not dig up frozen ground yourself to find the pipe: the camera shows where the fault is without opening anything.
No-dig repair in winter
When the ground is frozen, digging is slow and difficult. No-dig repair avoids the problem: the camera finds the fault from the existing manhole, the pipe is cleaned with high-pressure water and the repair is made from the inside, whatever the conditions on the surface.
Not every fault can be repaired from the inside. The camera inspection shows from the start whether the pipe can be restored this way or needs excavation, so you know before you decide.
Ma.Ster OE serves Florina from its base in Ptolemaida and also takes on snow clearing of roads. If your drain struggles every time it gets cold, one phone call is enough to arrange the camera inspection.