TEXAS, USA — As Central Texas starts to thaw out and shift away from below-freezing temperatures, local plumbers are experiencing an increase in service calls.
Ryberg Plumbing LLC owner Cody Ryberg said they received at least 50 calls for service on Wednesday, Jan. 17 alone. He said they're seeing more problems in older homes, specifically ones with copper piping, or the old galvanized PVC.
However, Ryberg said most people are dealing with no water coming from their faucets, meaning the pipes are frozen.
"You just have to hope for the best that you don't end up having a busted pipe," Ryberg said. "We're just trying to give out the best advice we can in that situation because there's not a whole lot you can do if the pipes are already frozen."
Ryberg and the crew are all dedicated to the freeze, working around the clock to serve Central Texans the best they can. He said the recent freeze is not much of anything to what occurred during 2021, but that doesn't mean people aren't needing their service.
If you have frozen pipes, Ryberg said the best thing you can do is try to thaw them out.
"Open the cabinet up, let the warm air get in there to thaw out the pipes, and then take your handle, in this case, it's a single, just put it right in the middle," Ryberg explained, demonstrating on a faucet. "Turn it on all the way so it's got cold and hot water. If it's a double handle, take both handles and turn both of those on."
The problem could be worse than frozen pipes though, and if that's the case -- you'll need a plumber's trade.
"If you hear running water or you see water, then you have a busted pipe," Ryberg said. "Give us a call and we'll get out there and get you taken care of."
Ryberg added any water line that's against an exterior wall is going to freeze if you don't have constant circulation going through it and that keeping your faucets at a drip can save you.
"Everybody still needs to be dripping their faucets and taking precautions because we're thawing out today, but it's not the end of it," Ryberg said.
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