Log in Subscribe

Storm repairs

Posted

The snow is gone and with it the sub-zero temperatures.

But last week’s record winter storm left residents with some costly reminders – things like broken water lines and stopped up sewers – creating a record demand for plumbers and septic tank services to restore the normal flow we take for granted.

Robert Bebout of Bebout Plumbing has never seen the like in 21 years as a plumber.

“It’s been record,” he said, estimating that 80 percent of calls now are for frozen water lines.

Bebout and his wife, Gina, are averaging 15 to 20 calls a day, more than triple their busiest day before the storm

The couple usually averages three to five calls a day.

“Five calls is a really busy day,” he added.

They worked 25 calls from Tuesday through Saturday and 40 calls in a week’s time.

“We worked seven calls on Saturday and finally just had to stop. We needed a break,” he said.

And it all hasn’t been frozen water lines.

Bebout has had to open frozen P-traps in the crawl spaces under houses.

And he’s encountered frozen drains and sewer mains – pipes that are 3 inches or greater in diameter.

It takes time, knowledge and a big machine to auger through that kind of ice and restore normal flow.

For every call answered and problem resolved, it seems there are 10 waiting to take its place. 

On Tuesday Bebout was away from his phone for 45 minutes. In that brief time, a half-dozen callers left voice mail pleas for help.

“I try to warn people,’ Bebout said. “People don’t think that hot water freezes faster than cold.”

There can be another set of problems in the country where many homes and businesses rely on septic systems.

Mike Slate with Slate Septic Services in Lexington said Monday he is receiving “a lot” of calls from people whose septic systems are backing up.

Both aerobic and conventional septic tanks have been adversely affected by the record low temperatures.

Though the systems differ, the bad results like sewage backups don’t.

Sprinkler heads, a key component to aerobic systems, are freezing up, Slate said.

Unfortunately, “there’s nothing we can do about it,” he added.

Septic tanks that haven’t been pumped in five or six years are prone to stopping up in conditions like those last week.

Slate is telling callers that the saturated ground needs time to dry before he can move in the heavy equipment necessary to remedy those cases.

In the meantime, the calls keep coming.

Kelsi Sawatzky, receptionist at Red Dirt Septic in Tuttle, said it’s been “nuts” keeping up with the calls and scheduling service.

Like Slate, Red Dirt is receiving many calls about non-working aerobic septic systems. 

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here