Bitter cold leads to several water customers waiting for frozen pipe assistance

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The polar vortex has led to several issues across the Midwest, leaving several citizens with frozen water pipes across Mid-Missouri.

In Columbia, the water and light department reported 201 people called about frozen pipes between Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon. There have been 9 water main breaks in Columbia since Friday.

A spokesman for the department Matt Nestor said when a call comes in the city will determine if the problem is coming from inside or outside of the house by checking the water meter. If it's outside, that is usually something they will work on.

He said because of the volume of calls that were coming in over the weekend, they were not able to respond to people immediately.

"We couldn't get to everybody," Nestor said. "People were calling and we were getting to them as quickly as we can... I wouldn't be surprised if there was some after-hours work being done."

He is hopeful with temperatures warming up, there will be a decrease in calls for service.

Some customers have reported more than two days without water because of frozen pipes, because of the increase in need for plumpers.

Brian Wear with Brian Wear Plumbing in Columbia said they have had to put people on a waitlist and prioritize the need of customers.

"We just go and go and get to everyone we can get to," Wear said. "Priorities were burst pipes and people that had no water in their house."

He said they tried to prioritize those with more urgent needs and one that they would be able to make a more long-term solution so the pipes don't freeze up again.

"We hate to be that way, but we have to help the people that we feel like we can help them from freezing again," Wear said.

Wear said while a warm-up this weekend will help thaw out some pipes, he worries frozen pipes will thaw out and burst on Saturday when it's forecasted to be above freezing.

"If people have been sitting there with some frozen pipes Saturday could be the day that we get a lot of bursts and flood, it's going to be bad," Wear said.

He is hopeful many pipes will just thaw out instead of bursting.

"If it's bad enough, it'll burst a little, there will be a little slit in the side of the pipe and you'll see a bulge, and it may still be frozen, it's like a ticking time bomb," Wear said. "When it finally thaws out enough, water will spray out of that, where ever it is it will make itself known."

He said a way to avoid flooding would be shutting out your water main when it warms up on Saturday if you know some of your pipes are frozen. Other than that, he said it's something that is hard to avoid.

"We're so far into it now, what's done is done," Wear said. "This shows you a point where this is a susceptible place for freezing, so what can I do to address this in the future."

Experts recommend that customers leave a small flow of water a try to help avoid freezing pipes, as well as making sure warmer air is getting to your pipes.

Watch ABC17 News at 9 and 10 for the full story.