PORTLAND, Ore. -- Hundreds of distressed homes for sale have sat cold and empty during this record-breaking cold snap. As temperatures fluctuate above and below the freezing point, pipes have been bursting across metro Portland, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Many homes that have flooded were already vacant and in disrepair from months of inattention. Plumbers told KGW that many of them were foreclosed.
"I personally have gone out to those foreclosed homes - nobody is ever there and usually a neighbor contacts us because they notice water coming from under the doors," said Adam Ponce, a local plumber with 503-Plumbers.
Even well-insulated homes are at risk of pipe bursts and flooding if there isn't any heat on to moderate temperatures, Ponce said.
One of the most common plumbing calls during this cold snap has come from outside water faucets that break, usually because of a forgotten garden hose. Bob Donley, a recent Chicago transplant, said he woke up recently to discover his kitchen and basement flooded. Uninsulated pipes underneath the sink were culprit, he said.
"I just assumed you wouldn't have this problem in Portland, you know I thought I left all this in Chicago," he said.
Here are a few tips to deal with frozen pipes:
- Use the shutoff valve or purchase a meter key to shut down water service from the city
- Make sure pipes are insulated and warm
- Sometimes a frozen pipe can be thawed with a blowdryer (if it hasn't already burst)
