NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Extremely cold temperatures and near-zero wind chills could easily freeze pipes across the Midstate this week.
Plumbers were already busy responding to maintenance calls at homes and businesses after single-digit temperatures on Monday morning.
Lee Company plumber Jonathon Ortega said one night of extreme cold can cause problems, but prolonged stretches of below-freezing weather tend to cause the most frozen pipes.
Ortega said it is important to open cabinets under sinks to make sure warm air continues to flow around pipes and start faucets on a drip to prevent water from sitting inside the pipes.
The most at-risk pipes are in outdoor walls or uninsulated areas like crawlspaces and attics, Ortega said. People should close any outside vents that allow cold air near pipes and cover outside faucets.
“(Taking these steps) does not completely have you in the clear,” Ortega said. “You can do everything, and …