Burst pipes? How long you'll wait for a plumber and how to prepare for the next cold spell
It's been cold in Knoxville recently. We're still grappling with the fallout.
After a deep freeze late last week caused rolling power outages and Knoxville got about an inch of snow Monday, the cold temperatures have brought some challenges. One the most prevalent issues as Knoxville thaws out has been bursting pipes.
More:Snow covers Knoxville before the week's warmup begins
The Knoxville Utilities Board told Knox News it has responded to more than 1,000 calls regarding frozen or broken pipes since Dec. 23.
The problems have kept local plumbers busy, too. Ronnie Harper, owner of Ron's Plumbing, and Chris Kirchstein, plumbing manager at My Professional Plumbing, both told Knox News on Wednesday they had been responding to burst pipes all day.
"(We're) extremely busy," Kirchstein said. "I might be on a house right now, (with) all their pipes frozen and busted."
"We don't experience cold like we have in the last few days here often," Harper said. "A lot of the problems that we're finding is people have plumbing on the outside walls of houses and (it's) not insulated, and that's a big no no."
How long will it take to get the pipes fixed?
It depends on the severity and where the pipes burst, according to Harper. He said it could take anywhere from a few hours to potentially even a few days.
The response time to a burst pipe also varies, depending on how busy the plumbers are.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Harper said the wait was about three hours for his business. Kirchstein said My Professional Plumbing will normally be there the same day or the next.
The cost of the repair, according to Kirchstein, will also depend on the severity and location of the break.
What should I do if a pipe bursts?
First, call a plumber to schedule a repair.
While you wait for them to arrive, you'll need to open your faucets and turn off the water to your house. Kirchstein said that allows the ice to expand toward the faucets, relieving pressure on the pipe.
If you have faucets or a sink on your exterior walls, Kirchstein recommends opening your under-sink cabinets to let the heat better reach the pipes.
If you don't know how to shut off your water, you can call KUB at 865-524-2911 and they can help you locate the main valve.
KUB said customers are responsible for pipes that burst inside their homes and up to the water meter. If there's a break past the water meter, KUB is responsible for the repair.
How do I prevent my pipes from bursting next time it gets cold?
Pipes burst in cold weather as ice forms and pressure inside the pipe builds, according to the American Red Cross.
So, to get ahead of things and prevent that pressure, Harper and Kirchstein both recommended just letting water drip from your faucets.
A few other preventive tactics both plumbers suggested were:
Make sure your crawl space is sealed.
Cover your hoses.
Remove your hoses during the winter.
Insulate exposed pipes.
Schedule a time to have your pipes insulated.
KUB's AMI meters will alert it of potential leaks on customer-owned pipes, but the utility board still asks that customers check for leaks since there has been an increase in breaks.
Silas Sloan covers growth and development in East Tennessee for Knox News. He can be reached at silas.sloan@knoxnews.com. You can follow his work on Twitter @silasloan, or on Instagram @knox.growth. and sign up for the free, weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter. Unlock premium perks and support strong local journalism at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Burst pipes? Here's what to do now, and before it gets cold again
