Houstonians expecting to dish out money as pipes burst from winter storms

By On Mar 16, 2021

HOUSTON With more than a million CenterPoint customers still without electricity, families across our region are faced with frozen pipes bursting, sending water into homes and flooding yards. Repairing these pipes can be costly.

Bill Spencer, KPRC 2’s Consumer Investigator, has everything you need to know to avoid getting scammed.

46-year-old Tamika Thomas is scared in the middle of a weather emergency across Texas. Tamika is a single mother who looks after her six children and four grandchildren all by herself. Within minutes, Tamika’s house was flooded with water gushing from the ceiling.

“I’m coming down the stairs and all I see is water coming out,” said Tamika.

A pipe burst just above Tamika’s bedroom and within minutes the house Tamika rents was filled with five inches of water and her young grandchildren were looking for safety.

Now Tamika is facing a very large plumbing repair. So far she has received an estimate from a plumber.

display

“He told me maybe $ 1,200, he could fix anything for $ 1,200. I have a steady income. I don’t have $ 1,200, ”said Thomas.

Burst water pipes are a problem many Houstonians will face in the next few days. Not to mention the damage to ceilings, walls, and floors all of the water can cause.

Marcus Clark and Sara Benniga have burst pipes and the water damage is great.

“The walls are already so full of water that you can just put your hand on them and push them through, hardly any pressure through which the wall falls,” said Marcus.

If a pipe or pipes burst in your home, a certified plumber told Spencer that you should pay between $ 250 and $ 650 for repairs.

Also, don’t just call a plumber, either. The pros recommend calling at least three companies for estimates.

It’s also a good idea to call two small independent plumbers and two larger plumbing companies to get the best deal.

display

As for Tamika, her biggest concern isn’t the pipe. They are her four young grandchildren.