Houstonians go through great lengths to get plumbing supplies

By On Mar 31, 2021

HOUSTON – Ed Hyde never introduced himself as a pipe maker, but a supply of pieces and parts plastered a table in his house in Katy.

“Anyone who has a need we try to fill it,” said Hyde, referring to the supply of CPVC tubing that has become as good as gold.

As the inventory of pipes and other plumbing at home improvement stores in the Houston area declines, some have made it their business to collect supplies and distribute them to desperate consumers. That’s what a group of neighbors did in the Pine Mill Ranch neighborhood near Katy.

Ed Hyde joined several of his neighbors.

“We were very fortunate to have continued supplies and there were a lot of people looking for help,” said Hyde.

Madhav Parimi, a colleague next door, said most residents in the subdivision reported pipe damage but could not find replacement parts at local hardware stores.

Parimi wondered if the Texas stores were sold out. Was that the case in Louisiana next door too?

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“One idea was if Texas didn’t have it, maybe we could look at stores in Louisiana,” Parimi said.

They did. Parimi ordered pipes and parts from hardware stores in Lafayette and Lake Charles. The group then turned to their neighbor Frank to call one of his cousins across the state line. The cousin took the orders and met the Texans in orange.

“So far they haven’t got any parts in the Texas area, and bringing that stuff to the neighbors has helped some homes get their water back up,” Parimi said.

The items are for sale and have been advertised on the neighborhood’s Facebook page. A pipe burst over James Brook’s garage. He said he couldn’t find what he was looking for because the shelves were empty.

“It’s almost impossible to find parts right now,” said Brooks. He found what he needed at the neighborhood meeting.

“I really feel that neighborly love continues,” he said.

Meanwhile, a barber shop in Kingwood is giving away sanitary supplies to families in need.

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Kingwood Barbershop # 1 accepts donated parts from plumbers. Owner Larry Skero said what he thought was a small collection has grown into a good stash of pipes and parts for families struggling to turn their water on. He said that he has helped 30 families so far and that more donations are still coming.

“Every day someone came in here, either he got something or he gave something. So it was blessings all along, blessings to come, ”Skero said.