As Clark County continues thawing out, homeowners and businesses alike are faced with the watery result of ruptured frozen pipes.
“When temperatures get in the teens, that sometimes throws people off-guard,” said Loretta Callahan, spokeswoman for Vancouver Public Works.
Last weekend, city utilities workers fielded 51 calls from people wanting their water shut off due to frozen or burst pipes. On Tuesday, the pipes burst at a Safeway in east Vancouver, 6700 N.E. 162nd Ave., and water cascaded near the entrance. Callahan expects a higher volume of calls as things continue to thaw out and plumbing problems become more apparent.
Clark Public Utilities anticipated a similar increase in requests for water to be shut off in the coming days.
The Camas/Washougal Fire Department went to a home on Sunday that was flooded by burst pipes. The agency said the homeowners were away when it happened, and that it looked as though it had rained inside.
Chief Steve Wrightson with Clark County Fire District 3, which covers rural areas of Hockinson and Battle Ground, said firefighters haven’t responded to any water-flow issues. They dealt with their own plumbing misfortune after a sprinkler broke in an unheated part of the district’s headquarters station. Wrightson said he’s waiting on parts to replace the sprinkler.
Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said that fire sprinkler systems should be protected from freezing by being kept at 40 degrees or warmer. The ice in frozen sprinkler systems obstructs the water flow, preventing the sprinkler from working in the event of a fire. Businesses should turn off the water supply if their sprinkler system has frozen and notify the fire department that the system is out of service.
As temperatures warm up, people not only have to deal with water damage from ruptured pipes, but also the potential for mold growth, said Battalion Chief Tim Dawdy, spokesman for Clark County Fire & Rescue.
He said most of the problems in his protection area have happened at vacant buildings. The owners weren’t doing basic maintenance and had the heat turned off. The result, thousands of dollars worth of water damage, far outweighs the cost of basic maintenance and heat, Dawdy said. Not to mention, nearby buildings and neighbors can be impacted by the negligence, especially in a multi-unit building.
Water customers who experience freezing pipes should leave a faucet open and call a plumber. Never try to thaw pipes with an open flame, the city advises. A Woodland homeowner set his house on fire Monday afternoon by trying to thaw out his frozen pipes with a heat lamp.
Preventive steps for the next cold snap include insulating pipes, allowing a trickle of water to drip from indoor faucets and opening cupboard doors under sinks in kitchens to allow more heat to reach water pipes. Remove garden hoses and cover outside faucets. Water customers should also know where their water shut-off valve is and make sure it’s in working order, in case of emergency.
