Minneapolis Fire: 43 frozen pipes burst in 24 hours

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minneapolis Fire Department has responded to 43 incidents involving burst pipes over the past 24 hours due to the three-day deep freeze and subsequent thaw. The Twin Cities metro finally made it above zero after 76 consecutive subzero hours. 

There’s no way to tell your pipes are frozen just by looking at them, but if you touch them and they feel like icicles, that means it’s time to call a professional.

“This is the most frozen pipe calls I think any of us have ever seen,” said one professional, Matt Austin.

Austin, of Hero Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, said his company has taken more than 100 frozen pipe calls over the last two days.

HOMEOWNER TIPS: Your pipes are frozen. Now what?

To prevent having to call plumbers to save the day when temperatures plummet, experts have a few recommendations.

• Leave your water faucet at a cold trickle, especially if pressure is low.
• Open up cabinets on exterior walls to help keep pipes warm.
• Make sure your attic, basement or any crawl spaces are well-insulated.

The thaw ahead could mean a weekend of many busted pipes across the metro.

“Kind of like when you put a can of soda in the freezer to chill it, it expands, and it gets to the point that it just bursts,” Austin said.

CRAZY COLD: Frozen pipes cause White Bear Township water tower to overflow