OFF-TOPIC WARNING! AND ABJECT APOLOGY

[IrishAyes]

We indulged in some weather related posts recently in this group, which is fine. But I posted some bad advice here, so I think I should follow up also with an alert and apology to anybody who might've followed my rash example:

1/8/2014 WARNING: If you put more than the tiniest bit of de-icing salt in an open ice-jammed exit pipe, you're likely to compound your problems rather than solve them. IT CLUMPS. ONLY USE NON-TOXIC LIQUID ANTI-FREEZE. I'll never forgive myself if my bad advice causes anyone else more problems than they started with.

Maybe I misread something on the home improvement website, who knows. Regardless, I screwed up big time and earnestly hope nobody else followed me over the cliff.

[appacom]

1. Never saw your original post, but thank you.

I like how you roll.

[IrishAyes]

2. Thank you very much.

When I went back to the hardware store this morning for an auger, I told the store owner and he said he wouldn't have expected the de-icing salt to clump either; so at least I felt a little less stupid. Still don't want to cause anyone else to make the same mistake, though. There's a downside to creativity! No end to the trouble you can cook up.

Boiling water does little to nothing to soften that salt clump either; but when the weather warms enough for the ice jam in the trap to go away on its own, I'll mount a serious attack with the auger. If that doesn't work, I'll buy one of these long plumber augers that fits on a drill.

[freshwest]

3. Kicking for saving pipes! Thanks, Irish. n/t