KENNEWICK -- The fall-out from the arctic blast is taking a toll on your pipes. In the last 48 hours, plumbers have been deluged with calls about burst pipes.

So we tagged along with two local plumbing companies, Arrow Plumbing and Riggle Plumbing, to survey the damage.

"We're going to have to cut that line over here Vic," Riggle Plumbing worker Kevin Keller said, as he tried to patch up a frozen pipe.

Keller can tell you: patching up pipes is tedious work. It's long hours with freezing cold water on frigid days.

"Yep, frozen pipes today," Keller says.

"I got up to take a shower and no water," homeowner Scott Fowler told me.
Fowler had been without water all day, and he was certainly not the only one.

"There's just so many out there," Arrow Plumbing worker Matt Mahany said.

"Last year I only had one call for freeze, the whole year," Keller said. "This year, first couple days I've been working quite a few hours."

Freezing temperatures knocked out dozens of pipes this week. Hot water pipes and those exposed to the elements (like the ones in your attic) outside or in your basement, were the first to freeze.

"Grab a shovel!" an Arrow Plumbing worker laughs.

The Arrow Plumbing crew had a royal mess on their hands after an outside pipe burst at the King City Truck Stop. Workers had to pump out the water and then repair the pipe.

Plumbers advise you should try to fix an exposed cracked pipe before it gets to the point of completely bursting.

"The longer it sits, the more likely you're going to have a broken pipe.," Keller said.

Plastic and metal pipes can both freeze but plastic is tougher to thaw. Plumbers said all you can really do is heat, tape, and insulate. You can also use heat guns and space heaters to help thaw pipes.

Another trick of the trade: keep your faucets running a thin stream into a sink or inside drain. All day? Yep.

"Not just a drip, a small stream," Keller said. "It's cheaper to keep your water running a bit all day than have me come out and unthaw pipes. It's not cheap!"

We did a little checking and found repairs can be very expensive depending on the job. It can cost about $300 for just a couple hours of work.

The NW Insurance Council offers these tips to help you prevent pipes from freezing:

-- Both plastic (PVC) and copper pipes are susceptible to bursting due to freezing temperatures. Insulate pipes in your home’s garage, crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing.

-- Wrap at-risk pipes with heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

-- Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. Temperatures lower than 65 degrees may not keep pipes running through exterior walls from freezing.

-- Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will prevent freezing.

-- Seal air leaks that allow cold air inside, especially near where pipes are located. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in.

-- Disconnect garden hoses. Use indoor valves to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. Cover outside spigots with special Styrofoam insulators made for this purpose.

If your pipes freeze and burst
-- Call your agent or insurance company as soon as you can. However, your insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see the spill before you take action.

-- If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.

-- If your pipes burst, first turn off the water and then mop up spills. You don’t want the water to do more damage than it already has.

-- Make a list of the damaged articles. Retain damaged items so your adjuster can inspect them.

-- Make temporary repairs and take other steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove any carpet or furniture in the path of flowing water or seepage.

-- You may be eligible for reimbursement for temporary repairs, so save receipts for what you spend. However, avoid expensive permanent repairs until your adjuster has an opportunity to evaluate the damage.

-- Standard homeowners policies include coverage for additional living expenses if your home cannot be occupied due to water damage from pipes broken by freezing.

For more information on how protect your home’s water pipes from freezing, call NW Insurance Council and ask for a free brochure titled "No Frozen Pipes," (800) 664-4942, or visit www.nwinsurance.org.