Frozen pipes wreak havoc for homeowners, businesses

On Friday, Town of Cary crews responded to more than 60 calls from people without water. In Raleigh, there were more than 100 complaints. 

At North Carolina State University, there was a water main break early Friday morning near the Physical Plant.

If a pipe is frozen on the utility's side of the meter, then the city or town is required to fix it. The area from the meter to the building is considered private property, meaning the homeowner or business needs to call a plumber. 

"We've seen quite a bit where you can leave your faucet dripping ad that does help overnight. Leave both warm and cold water just dripping a little bit," Cary Public Utilities Director Scott Hecht said. 

Hecht also suggested leaving the cabinets open under the kitchen sink to help keep the pipes down there warm. 

When a pipe is frozen, town workers remove the meter, put it in a truck for a few minutes to melt the ice, then put it back. 

As the weather warms up and frozen pipes begin to thaw, there is a chance that pipes will burst under the pressure. Utility crews and plumbers said they are preparing for that scenario this weekend, when temperatures are expected to rise above freezing.