Cold Spell Has Pipes Bursting All Over Tulsa

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The cold snap has kept plumbers and waterline repair crews busy. They are working overtime to fix frozen pipes and to keep water flowing.

Is it possible to thaw your own pipes, or must you call a professional?

The veins of the city are succumbing to the arctic air.

Broken pipes are creating unwanted icy skating rinks on the streets and in your home stopping the water cold.

"That's mother nature and man trying to deal with mother nature with his systems and everything," said Ron Love, Tulsa Works and Water Dept.

Waterline repair crews and plumbers are going with the flow, so to speak, working around the clock.

"It's been real hectic today because last night got real cold. The wind picked up. The wind is the worst factor in freezing your pipes," said Daniel Oakley, Quick Plumbing.

"The freezing temperatures freezing this Oklahoma clay and it moves when it gets cold ... and it breaks the pipes," Love said.

Crews typically work on 4-6 water main breaks a day but 66 have been reported since Monday and after the crews wrap up, they are just going to move a little ways up the road to fix another water main break.

A little stream can go a long way. Daniel Oakley with Quick Plumbing says leave one faucet on with a little stream. That will help keep the pipes in your home from freezing. It will also help keep water flowing in the city's waterlines.

"A lot of people ain't taking precautions and covering their crawl space doors up and closing the vents on their house, keeping the pipes insulated and at least dripping," Oakley said.

If your pipes do freeze, Oakley says a hair dryer can help thaw them but he discourages the use of space heaters, saying they are too hazardous.

However, if your pipes are frozen solid, it's best to leave it to the professionals.