Cold weather could mean plumbing problems

Southern Colorado went from fall to winter in only a few hours.

That means that the plumbing is about to feel the cold. And if you’ve put off doing the work on your plumbing with the warm weather, you may have a problem.

The winds of change were blowing – no make that howling – in Southern Colorado Monday.

When the thermometer goes down, the number of calls to plumbing and heating companies goes up.

Scott Martinez of Olson Heating and Plumbing in Colorado Springs said, “this is the beginning of several (cold snaps) we imagine here in Colorado Springs.

If you’re not careful, you could find yourself looking for replacement pipes – along with a lot of other people.

But there are ways to avoid pipe troubles. Running your faucets is one.

“Just less than a pencil….as big as a pencil. If you let that much water stream all night you might cost yourself a few bucks but it will definitely be cheaper than the plumber coming out the next day doing a repair,” said Martinez.

And there’s another way to help keep your pipes from freezing.

“Opening up the cabinet doors underneath the sinks. You want to let the warm air inside of there so it doesn’t freeze,” said Martinez.

But if your pipes do freeze there is a way to unfreeze them – as long as they don’t burst.

Martinez said, “get as much hot air into that are as you can. So for example, if it’s underneath a sink get a blow dryer and heat that area up.”

If that isn’t enough, then there is a machine that can do the job.

“We have the thawing machines,” said Martinez.

Taking precautions with your pipes is always the best way to keep your money from blowing away this winter.

The underground pipes leading away from the house should stay intact this time unless the temperatures get much colder.