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We are just a day into our cold front with expected temperatures dipping down to freezing and already local plumbers are slammed with people calling in about frozen pipes. Local home improvement stores are also seeing crowds and running low on home winterizing items.
Forecasters are anticipating temperatures dropping to freezing.
However, with Jack Frost knocking at most Texans doors it’s causing some concern.
“When I turned on the water I had all this brown stuff come out I’m not a plumber I didn’t know what it was. But later on I found out it was actually my pipe bursting,” said Danielle Rapp.
Rapp wasn’t as prepared for winter as she thought especially when it came to her home.
“The burst caused thousands of dollars of damage. This pipe particular was inside of a wall so they had to cut a hole in the wall and it wasn’t fun,” said Danielle Rapp.
Max Hicks owner of Reliant Plumbing said he’s been busy making house calls throughout the week and expect to make more. “Frozen pipes are the number one thing they get frozen and they bust.”
If water pipes freeze in this weather, it can be a nightmare for home owners. If the water inside the pipes expands, the pipe can burst. Which can creating a real problem.
A frozen pipe can lead to a major flood once the frozen pipes thaw and release water. “What happens when you have a water main break you leak thousands and thousands of gallons of water,” said Hicks.
Taking care of the problem correctly can save a homeowner a lot of trouble, but doing it the wrong way can cost a lot more than a pipe or two. “It can cost you thousands of dollars.”
Hicks said there are ways to prevent frozen pipes at your house.
- Run a trickle of warm cool water at a steady stream throughout the day and night. Just a few drops per minute can keep a pipe from freezing. It may seem wasteful, but it could prevent a major incident which could lead to much more water waste and major damage.
- If leaving the house for an extended period of time, have water shut off.
- And invest in pipe insulation and wraps to keep them warm. A little duct tape will do the trick.
Crews with Austin Water are also encouraging homeowners to prepare.
“Wrap water pipes up that are outside your homes you can open up cabinets that are adjacent to outside walls as well and keep your homes at warm temperatures to prevent things from freezing, “said Richelle Brown with Austin Water.
It’s great to do it yourself but if you’re unsure, Hicks said to always be safe rather than sorry. “So the things you don’t want to do are try to take a blow torch to your plumbing or hair drier. Keep it safe,” said Hicks.