Cold Snaps Water Pipes, Costs You Money

CHARLOTTE, NC — Freezing temperatures are causing water pipes to burst across the area, and it will cost you money.

“All these repairs are paid for through water bills,” said Cam Coley with Charlotte Water.

That’s on top of the $12 million a year Charlotte Water says it spends replacing and relining pipes in older parts of the city like Dilworth to reduce breaks.

However, when it gets this cold, Coley says every neighborhood is at risk, not just the older ones.

“It’s an inconvenience,” said Angie Smith. “I mean, cooking, cleaning so forth and so on.”

Smith lives in East Charlotte off North Wendover Rd.

She was one of the hundreds who didn’t have water Friday.

Workers rotated out of the freezing water to dry off and get warm.

“Last night was too bad!” said one worker in the water Friday.

In Cotswold, traffic was cut off through rush hour as crews repaired the break on Randolph Rd. That impacted the Harris Teeter, Smashburger, and several apartments.

Charlotte Water has not counted the exact number of breaks this week. There are usually 100 a week here, and crews say it’s definitely higher.

“We just tackle it one repair at a time,” said Coley.

Smith is asking crews to replace the pipes at her home because she says this is a repetitive problem.

“I’m not getting any answers,” said Smith. “They said the pipes were frozen. They said to wait for them to thaw out, and that’s it.”

Crews have to take their time to stay safe in the dangerously cold temperatures.

To try and prevent this we know to keep the faucets dripping, but you also need to find the master water shut off valve at your home, and use it if a pipe breaks.