Plumber: Leave Water Dripping Wednesday Night

With temperatures the coldest so far this week predicted Wednesday night, prevent problems with your plumbing with some simple fixes.

Local Plumber Cameron Bernhardy said frozen pipes are one of his main sources of business. He said that pipes often freeze because people do not disconnect outside hoses from the spicket. Older systems made of copper are also more prone to freezing.

“Concerned about your plumbing freezing, just run water,” Bernhardy said. “Make sure it’s coming from both sides of the faucet. So if you got like the faucet with a handle on both sides, you’re gonna open up a little bit of it, a little bit of cold. Got a single handle, you’re gonna open it up in the middle until you get a little trickle out of it.”

Bernhardy said there are several effective methods to fix pipes, such as using insulation, pipe sleeves, and other preventative solutions. Bernhardy said you should get your pipes checked by a professional if you are unsure whether you have a problem. Failing to do so could lead to a bad plumbing situation worsening over time, he said.

Bernhardy said that there is something to look for in every pipe, whether there is signs of wear and tear, corrosion, or vulnerabilities.

“Not every pipe needs to be replaced all the time,” Bernhardy said. “Sometimes you can kinda look at em and kinda tell if they have some life left in them or don’t.”

Bernhardy said he has witnessed the consequences firsthand when people face these unfortunate plumbing events. He said that dealing with frozen or burst pipes brings unnecessary stress, consumes valuable time, and results in costly repairs, making the experience simply not worth experiencing.

“You may wake up in the morning and you got no water to shower with,” Bernhardy said. “That’s probably the biggest one. if you have a busted pipe under your house and it taken out, you lose all water pressure, then you don’t have water anywhere.”