Calls for frozen pipe problems spiked at plumbing companies on Monday following the bitter cold weather this past weekend.
At Bob Hamilton Plumbing & Heating in Overland Park, staff said they had received around 50 calls for maintenance by lunchtime on Monday.
"The phone has been ringing all day long," said Bob Hamilton Plumbing & Heating owner Bob Hamilton. "It's not something that's going to go away because the cold is here."
Hamilton said customers reported problems with their sinks, toilets and showers on Monday.
Snow expected for later this week might make things even worse for pipes.
"If they're frozen for three days, when they unthaw, they're going to be broken," Hamilton explained.
Hamilton offers the following steps to avoid having frozen pipes down the road:
- Make sure your garage door is properly working and closed. If it stays open, pipes could freeze faster.
- Keep water slightly running at all faucets, with both warm and cold water.
- Make sure all furnace vents are kept open.
- If a cabinet has a pipe inside of it, keep the door open to allow heat in during the winter.
Hamilton also said if you leave your home for weeks or months during the winter, shut off the water before you leave.
Taking these steps could help you avoid paying thousands of dollars in repairs due to burst pipes.
Hamilton said possible snow and more low temperatures later this week may lead to more frozen pipes and issues at homes.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
