Pipes freezing in January. It’s nothing new, right?

Actually, plumbers say they are getting called out to help people with pipes that never froze before. That is until this year’s visit from the polar vortex.

“When you have the second, third day of extreme temperatures like this, it’s starting to wear on the insulation of the house. You got pipes that are freezing that aren’t normally freezing,” said Bill George of George’s Plumbing and Heating in Aquashicola.

With highs in the 20s and subzero low temperatures, normal insulation is being tested in a lot of homes.

George said his company had about 40 calls in two days, a definite uptick.

Customers are having issues like no heat, frozen pipes, and empty oil tanks.

They try to take care of all of them.

George said it’s not worth turning a frozen pipe — an inconvenience — into a potential disaster by trying to thaw it with a blowtorch without experience.

Volunteering as a firefighter in addition to running his plumbing business, George said he’s seen cases where someone rushed to thaw a pipe to cook or use the bathroom, and end up causing more damage to their house.

“You can buy bottled water to do all that stuff. To go buy one of these torches and think you’re gonna take it upon yourself is not a good idea,” George said.

George urges preventive measures like using heat tape, an electrical wrap which can be put on pipes. If that’s not available, a hair dryer or heat gun can work.

“If it’s frozen the best thing you can do until you get it open is shut your water main off where the water comes into the house,” George said.

If you’re at risk of a pipe breaking you may want to see if you are covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurers usually require backup water and sewer coverage before they fulfill a claim involving a broken pipe, according to Lisa Heller of Balliet Agency in Lehighton.

“It’s like sinkholes or earthquake coverage — it’s something that’s an addition to your policy,” Heller said.

A pipe break must be sudden and accidental. If an insurance adjuster determines it wasn’t properly maintained, the claim may not be covered.

Heller recommends that homeowners take preventive steps like running a faucet, maintaining heat in the home, and opening cabinets so warm air can circulate around the pipes.

So far, Heller said she has had a few claims but would be expecting more given the historic low temperatures.

“I think a lot of people are prepared, they know what to do these days because of social media and television. They’re more aware of what can happen when the pipes freeze,” she said.