Local plumber warns of frozen pipes for homeowners

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) -

This weekend's sub-zerotemperatures are a cause for concern for homeowners.

For the most part, things are quiet right now, but plumbers across Western Massachusetts expect the calls to start coming in over about busted pipes during the next few days.

If they were not treated before the frigid temps, there is a chance outdoor pipes are frozen.

One plumber with 30 years of experience toldCBS 3 that if they are frozen, things could get worse for homeowners as we go back above freezing.

"When everything thaws out, you'll start seeing stuff on the outside walls," said Richard Paige, owner of Frank Paige Plumbing and Heating. "Maybe the outside faucet is frozen and it will thaw itself out. Ideally you haven't kept your temperatures down too low. Sixty to 65 degrees is the minimum. If you get much below that, you're asking for trouble with your outside walls or you might get freeze ups."

While it may be too late to treat trouble spots now, there are things homeowners can do down the line, so they will not have to worry about frozen pipes in the future.

"If you have a troublesome area, like an outside wall that doesn't get much sunlight, sometimes it's just going to freeze," said Paige. "If you have a troublesome spot like that, you might want to keep your water dribbling just a little bit. Moving water will not freeze."

Something else to help in the fight against frozen pipes are relatively new "Pex" pipes.

They are made ofa material that will expand with frozen water, but has a memory to return to its former shape once the water thaws.

More here:
Local plumber warns of frozen pipes for homeowners