EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Many El Paso homeowners are still on a waiting list to have their broken pipes repaired.
This is because local plumbers responded to hundreds of calls received after last week’s winter storm.
Plumbing companies like Jeffs Westside Plumbing LLC are still working to fix broken pipes due to the winter frost and say they were well prepared this time around, but still remind El Pasoans what to do ahead of time to avoid failure or leaks .
“We had about 200 calls. We were able to reach most of them, some are still in an outstanding situation, ”said Joe Gonzalez, a licensed plumber at Jeffs Westside Plumbing LLC.
Many plumbers said they received hundreds of calls while it was freezing and were still responding to broken pipes a week later.
“As a rule of thumb, if it’s going to be 32 degrees or less for more than 12 hours, you know you’ll be in trouble if your pipes aren’t protected,” said Fabian Barragan, owner of Fabian’s Fast and Affordable Plumbing, Heating and Cooling along with Master Plumber said.
It is important that your pipes are insulated from harsh winter conditions.
“I still recommend wrapping these pipes every winter, starting with the beginning of winter, even in October. Remember, we had snow in October this year and the pipes burst too, ”Barragan said.
“Any tube bib, any valve, you can cover it with a towel, blanket, and plastic bag and it will protect it a little better,” added Gonzalez.
Barragan said that the sprinkler system usually breaks first: “I have warned my customers to open the valves with small valves and drain the water if you know it will be for more than 32 degrees or less than 12 hours. “
Some other tips include disconnecting all water hoses from hose bibs, running a gentle stream of hot and cold dishwater, and opening your closets.
“If you can see outside the window in your kitchen or bathroom and your plumbing is on that wall, I recommend opening the cabinets so the heat from the house can get into the closet and keep those pipes warm.” Barragan explained.
While plumbers are still busy recovering broken pipes, they also shared a fair warning to make sure you do your research and contact licensed professional plumbers.
“We have a lot of people who come out of town and just say, ‘We’re plumbers, we can do the job for you.’ They’ll do the job, but it’s just not a professional job. They have to hire a licensed plumber to do this, otherwise they’ll have to pay twice, ”said Gonzalez.
Another tip is not to pay money upfront. Again, by researching and finding licensed plumbers or plumbers, you can avoid paying more money for further repairs.
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