What to do if your pipes burst

Some homeowners who woke up this week to burst water pipes instinctively called 911 for help.

That's exactly what they should have done, said Capt. Terry Taylor of the East Fork Fire and Paramedics districts.

"If it looks like water in your pipes has gotten to, or passed by anything to do with your electrical system, call the fire department," Taylor said.

"If your pipes are in the attic and they are burst and water comes down through the walls and gets through light fixtures and around plug outlets, that could start a fire."

He encouraged homeowners not to be timid about calling 911 if they don't have someone at home or a neighbor to help out.

"That's what we're there for. If you've got water zinging around your house and you have no way to deal with it, call us," Taylor said. "When in doubt, call us out.

As far as I am concerned, that should be our motto. We can deal with it, find the shut-off. If the home isn't habitable, we can activate the Red Cross."

A concern, Taylor said, is empty houses or vacant businesses.

"We're getting calls from the neighbors that they're seeing water pouring out of some of these empty houses," Taylor said. "The heat is down low and the house is empty. The primary problem is empty commercial properties. There, the water is a little more substantial."

Taylor said the worst may be yet to come as the temperature warms up.

"What we're expecting is when the ambient temperature hits between 35-40 degrees, water that is frozen in broken pipes is going to begin to thaw. Then we'll be getting the calls. Right now, things are broken out there that nobody knows about. When it warms up, it's going to get interesting," Taylor said.