COLORADO SPRINGS – The bitter cold temperatures that cause significant problems in Colorado Springs and knowing what precautions to take can make a huge difference in tackling recent arctic conditions.
Master Plumber BJ Bishop of Bill’s Plumbing said they were busier than ever thanks to a winter season, unlike the one we saw last year.
“What difference between this year and last year spoiled us a bit last year because it’s so warm,” said Bishop. “Obviously we are setting record breaking temperatures and it’s the steady days that are messing us up.”
The brunt of the cold hits parts of our state harder than others. But Bishop sees frozen and bursting pipes all over Colorado Springs.
“Even now, in the middle of town, we’re not on a mountain, this house is 50 years old and frozen, so just very, very weird temperatures causing all of this,” added Bishop.
A common cause of frozen pipes is air creeping in.
The master plumber says, “Once you have a block of ice here, the ice can’t expand or the air can’t expand, and that’s what blows copper tubing out if the cold air there just expands. ”
But Bishop says there are ways to keep your pipes in one piece.
- Let the faucets drip
- Leave the heat on
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors
- Plug holes near pipes
- Check the outside of the pipes for frost
- Disconnect and drain the water hoses
“I definitely want to keep your taps open, just have a trickle that doesn’t run much and just keep an eye on things,” he said. Definitely keep your cabinet doors under your kitchen sink open and let the heat from the house in and that will definitely help. “
If your pipes freeze, you will run out of water quickly, and most of the time, there’s not much a plumber can do until the pipes are thawed.
For Bishop, the record cold means business.
“Remember, we are all very busy, make sure you try to reach you accordingly, but sit down and wait like I said, turn on some taps, open some cupboards, let the warm air out in there, just be patient. ” Bishop added. “If something comes off and you have a leak, turn off the water in your engine room immediately and wait for us to call you back.”
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