Frigid temps in Northeast Ohio: Tips to prevent your pipes from freezing (Kristen Mirand - WKYC 3)
By Kristen Mirand - WKYC 3
WICKLIFFE, Ohio — As temperatures fall into the single digits across Northeast Ohio, a Cleveland plumbing and heating company says they’re already seeing a surge in calls tied to the season’s first deep freeze.
Inside H Jack’s Plumbing and Heating, phones are ringing.
“It’s very busy right now,” said John Langer, president of the family-owned company.
Langer says the first significant cold snap of the season is often the busiest.
“There are certain times of the year, and this is certainly one of them, when you can really expect to have our crews running throughout the night, getting people heat and certainly dealing with the frozen water lines that always come when the temperature starts to dip below zero,” Langer said.
Those calls don’t stop, even in the middle of the night. Langer says the company has never closed — operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for nearly 50 years.
With temperatures continuing to drop, Langer says homeowners can take simple steps to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. One of the most important: letting water trickle from a few faucets during extreme cold.
“When it really gets cold, leave water trickling in some of your fixtures throughout the home,” Langer said. “Running water is a lot less likely to freeze than water standing still.”
He also recommends disconnecting outdoor hoses, opening cabinets under sinks located on outside walls, and making sure furnace filters and thermostat batteries are up to date.
“The big thing is to be proactive,” Langer said.
If pipes do freeze, Langer warns homeowners not to wait for them to thaw on their own.
“You should not wait for your pipes to thaw out naturally,” he said.
He says waiting can turn a small issue into major water damage — and much more expensive repairs.
To safely thaw frozen pipes, Langer says his crews use a professional tool known as a “hot box,” which sends an electric current through the pipe to slowly and safely thaw it while a plumber is on site to make repairs if needed.
“It’s very, very important to get them thawed out as efficiently and as safely as you possibly can,” Langer said.
Langer also cautions homeowners never to use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes, calling it dangerous and potentially damaging.