Madison Fire responds to dozens of burst pipes over holiday weekend

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The Madison Fireplace Division is warning about burst pipes as a result of freezing after responding to dozens of calls over the vacation weekend.

“The spike within the calls actually occurred on Christmas Day; that’s once we bought about 10 calls,” mentioned MFD public data officer Cynthia Schuster. “And it’s affected a number of kinds of properties, houses, companies, motels.”

Schuster says the division obtained over 30 requires leaks and burst pipes as a result of freezing over the vacation weekend and into the ultimate week of December. Regardless of the nice and cozy temps within the final days of 2022, Schuster anticipates extra chilly climate earlier than the winter is over, trying to get out in entrance of doubtless extra burst pipes.

Schuster says a lot of the calls they responded to have been the results of poor insulation and has a couple of ideas for folks making an attempt to keep away from the catastrophe sooner or later.

“Open up your cupboard drawers which are in entrance of your sink drains which are in your lavatory and your kitchen. That enables for the hotter air to keep up a correspondence together with your pipes and keep away from freeze-ups there. By no means go away your home windows and doorways open within the winter,” Schuster mentioned.

Cooper Plumbing proprietor Brandon Cooper says one other good rule of thumb is protecting the thermostat between 50 and 60 levels if you go away, whether or not it’s for the winter, trip and even the weekend, as a burst pipe as a result of freezing may cause vital harm.

“That’s most likely the most important, apart from a fireplace, a burst pipe within the winter can disrupt all the things and your high quality of dwelling; it might be months earlier than you’re again into a spot, and it’s dangerous sufficient,” mentioned Cooper.

MFD’s Schuster additionally emphasised the significance of house or renters insurance coverage if the worst occurs.

“For many individuals, particularly renters, it’s very tough to bounce again from a state of affairs like this,” Schuster mentioned.

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