Pro Plumbers: Protecting Pipes Pays Off

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Plumbers in the DFW Metroplex are expecting a busy day Wednesday, answering calls for broken pipes.

If you don't know anything about pipe protection, your local hardware store can help with outdoor faucet covers, insulation, and tape.

But if you can't make it to the store, you can always you an old towel to wrap your outdoor faucet. That's Cliff Morgan's advice. He's a professional plumber in Fort Worth.

Morgan himself uses insulation to fashion his own pipe covers because the ones in the store don't fit. And, he says, if ever there was a time to protect your pipes, it's now.

"I don't ever get concerned about it unless it gets down in the teens. So, if you see me out wrapping my pipes, you better make sure yours are wrapped," Morgan said.

Another tip you may already know is to keep your faucet running a little. One you may not know is to open the cabinets beneath your faucet to let the warm room air warm your pipes, especially if they're located on an outside wall.

Morgan knows from experience to expect a lot of calls.  "Last year, when it got this cold I had 75 freezing pipe calls in one day. I kind of expect the same thing," Morgan said.

But he also thinks if you haven't insulated your pipes by now, it might be too late and you just might need the number of a good plumber.