ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -Cold weather may not last long in South Georgia, but plumbers say it doesn’t take much for pipes to freeze and burst.

Plumber Jason Ranew has been a plumber for 10 years, spending the last three with Septic Solutions Plumbing, and cold weather means busy days.

“We get around anywhere from two calls a day to about seven calls a day,” Ranew said.

On this day alone, Ranew has about five calls, all tied to leaking or frozen pipes caused by the cold. Outside one home, in a shed where the water heater is located, water drips from a pipe that froze overnight.

“It is usually the pipes are not insulated properly. And that is the main reason, is the insulation on the pipes. You have to keep them warm,” Ranew said.

Prevention cheaper than repairs

Ranew says one of the biggest problems he sees isn’t the cold itself, it’s insulation. In South Georgia, cold temperatures can catch people off guard. He says protecting pipes with insulation is easier and cheaper than many homeowners realize.

“It’s actually about a dollar a foot. And it will save you lots of time and money in the long run,” Ranew said.

If you see a leak or a frozen pipe, he says, don’t panic, turn off the water, and call a plumber. Ranew says frozen and leaking pipes are some of the most preventable cold-weather problems, but only if homeowners act before the damage is done.

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