Plumbing company gets 20,000 calls for service in single day

It was insane for parts and skilled help to fix broken pipes. And there’s one more thing you need to know before hiring someone.

Video transcript

– – As we turn to the winter storm recovery, so many of us have to deal with broken pipes and other damage to our homes, along with the cold and ice we dealt with last week.

– – Yes. As you can imagine, there is such a high demand for plumbers now and it can be difficult to find one anytime soon.

ABC 13’s Steve Campion spoke to a plumber today who said he had received hundreds of calls on Friday alone. Steve?

STEVE CAMPION: Alona, ​​a plumber is perhaps the most sought-after person in southeast Texas right now. Abacus Plumbing announced on Friday alone that they had received 20,000 service calls. This is just a glimpse of what so many of our neighbors are going through right now.

– – Something happened here [INAUDIBLE] Power too.

STEVE CAMPION: My buddy Christopher Castro with Abacus Plumbing led us into the crawl space of this tomball house. Castro told me that the owner’s quick thinking saved her home from further damage. She turned off the water when she heard the pipe burst.

CHRISTOPHER CASTRO: This particular elbow froze, and when it began to thaw it split right in the middle.

STEVE CAMPION: Castro is one of many crews trying to help people as quickly as possible.

CHRISTOPHER CASTRO: Today I started in League City, went to Richmond, back to Houston, and now I’m in Tomball.

STEVE CAMPION: In an open conversation, Castro told me it was difficult to see so much damage in our region.

CHRISTOPHER CASTRO: It’s so sad to see some – some scenarios. I feel bad for some people. I want to help them as much as possible.

– – The first step was to completely insulate the pipes. We have had hundreds of pipe insulation cases.

STEVE CAMPION: In Houston’s Montrose today, people kept rushing to Southland Hardware looking for plumbing items. Ian Allen, director of the plumbing department, says they are doing their best to replenish the shelves.

The story goes on

IAN ALLEN: Mostly the fittings, elbows, and clutches – these are usually the ones that go first.

STEVE CAMPION: Allen says it remains difficult to pinpoint an exact schedule for shows.

IAN ALLEN: Well, the big problem is that the frost started higher up north and made its way into Texas. And we’re kind of at the end of the pipe. Everyone who has frozen all the way has already got their parts and everything. Everything is starting to slow down in terms of the production and receipt of parts.

CHRISTOPHER CASTRO: We’re booked, but we’re taking one call one at a time.

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