Frigid temperatures are expected to continue on Staten Island, and one local plumber wants to warn homeowners about a costly and all-too-common mistake.
"A lot of times, when a pipe freezes and you don't catch it on time, it splits. So when it thaws, it floods," said Keith Cummings, the owner of KCM Plumbing and Heating.
The Mariners Harbor-based plumber added that homeowners could easily dodge this damage by taking preventive steps, such as raising the heat and sealing cold drafts.
"People, they don't expect it to be so cold, so they say that, 'Oh, I don't have to worry about it. Then, they worry about it, or they forget," Cummings said.
He says anyone can take simple steps to keep pipes from freezing, starting with a trip to the garage.
"They're just bare-brick garages, water lines that are exposed to elements," Cummings said. "You buy insulation, foam insulation, put it on, roll on duct tape, you seal it up and you're good."
Cummings also advises, if your faucets are running slow, it could be a sign of frozen pipes. Cummings says shut down your water supply immediately, then use a space heater to thaw the pipes. But if the situation's too frosty…"They should call a plumber, the plumber will come out with a pipe burn machine like this, clamp it up, the water will thaw out. Most of the times it will just start flowing again."
While any homeowner can protect their pipes from freezing, Cummings says business owners must take extra measures to protect their fire sprinklers during a cold snap.
"Business owners should keep their heat on in their warehouses so that their fire sprinklers don't freeze," Cummings said.
According to 2012 data from Nationwide and Allied Insurance, the average insurance claim for frozen pipe damage tops more than $10,000.
"You don't have to be a licensed plumber to protect your home from this. It's all precautionary measures," Cummings said .
Cummings adds that these are precautionary measures that could protect your wallet, as well as people's lives.