Nick Blount and the plumbers of Blount's Speedy Rooter are now having to do repairs four times as much as normal.
"In a plumbing system, it usually has to be below freezing for about a day and a half for it to really start icing up, but we had it for about three days, so you can imagine the damage," says Blount.
And if you can't imagine, take a look at Kraig and Lisa Winterton's home. A pipe burst in their attic upstairs and left a big mess downstairs.
"We don't have central heating and it got cold, so the pipes froze and we got a nice leak going on," says Lisa.
A "nice leak" like theirs takes about one day and between $100 and $1,000 to fix. Most times, the whole pipe has to be replaced.
So it's much easier, and cheaper, to prevent it from bursting.
"Make sure that all the piping that's exposed, your hose bibs, any piping outside that's exposed or underneath your home does have at least a half inch of insulation on it," Blount advises.
It's also a good idea to open any cabinets around your indoor pipes to allow warm air to flow in. And don't forget to keep water flowing in your pipes by dripping your faucets.
If your pipes are already frozen, Temple Fire Department Spokesman Thomas Pechal says use a hair dryer or lamp, to slowly thaw the pipes.
"You want to not concentrate the heat in one area, slowly move it back and forth," Pechal explains.
And one of the most important things you can do is know where your water cut off valve is. That way if there is a leak, you can cut the water off right at its source.
Reporter: Ashley Goudeau / Photographer: Carlos Ramirez
