1. Overview
This case comes from a homeowner in Upstate New York, where winter freeze–thaw cycles often cause exterior drainage systems to freeze.
To address recurring ice blockages at a French drain outlet, the customer installed a YeloDeer Self-Regulating Heating Cable inside the drain pipe to maintain water flow during cold nights.
2. Customer Background
Customer Type: Homeowner
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Typical Winter Temperatures: -8°C to ~15°C (18°F to 5°F), with frequent overnight freezing
Existing Issues:
a. French drain outlet freezing during winter nights
b. Ice forming 3–4 feet back into the pipe
c. Repeated need to thaw the pipe manually with hot water
d. Water backing up when the outlet froze
3. The Problem
The homeowner’s French drain discharges a small but continuous amount of water throughout winter. During colder nights, water would freeze at the pipe’s exit point, creating an ice plug that slowly extended back into the drain line. Once frozen, drainage stopped completely.
Because the pipe was partially buried and constantly exposed to moisture and snow, insulation alone was ineffective. The customer needed a reliable way to keep the outlet section open without daily intervention.
4. The Solution
The customer selected a 10 ft YeloDeer Self-Regulating Heating Cable and inserted it directly into the French drain pipe.
Product details:
Product type: Self-regulating heating cable
Length used: 10 ft
Temperature behavior: Automatically adjusts heat output based on surrounding temperature
Installation type: In-drain installation (non-pressurized pipe)
The self-regulating technology ensured the cable provided gentle, consistent heat without overheating, even when temperatures fluctuated.
5. Installation Highlights
1. Installation time: Approximately 45 minutes
2. The heating cable was zip-tied to a fiberglass rod before insertion. (This helped keep the cable straight and positioned along the bottom of the pipe, preventing bending or looping inside the drain and reducing the risk of restricting water flow over time)
3. Cable was inserted roughly 10 ft upstream from the outlet
4. Powered via a GFCI-protected outlet using an outdoor-rated extension cord
5. Simple DIY installation with no professional tools required
(Customer-provided photos show the cable secured to the rod and properly positioned inside the drain pipe.)
6. Results
After installation, the system was tested during a cold night.
1. Overnight low reached 22°F (–5.5°C)
2. Water continued flowing along the cable path
3. No ice blockage formed at the drain outlet
4. The recurring freeze-back issue was eliminated
Based on the pipe’s 4-inch diameter and surrounding snow cover, our technical team advised that adding a second identical heating cable could further improve heat coverage if needed. Thanks to the self-regulating design, parallel or overlapping cables remain safe and will not overheat.
7. Customer Feedback (Quote)
December 18, 2025
"So far it’s working. It got down to 22 last night and the water was still flowing right where the heating cable lays. This issue has been ongoing for years, and I’m optimistic this finally solves it. I may add another cable later, but this is already a big improvement.”
