Frozen pipes are bursting leaving a trail of unprecedented damage in homes throughout our area. Burst pipes in the attic and water coming through the ceiling has become all too common in old and new homes alike. As water spews from these broken pipes, the first inclination is to call a plumber.  Of course these professionls are flooded with calls so do expect to up to a six day wait.

Experts say the first thing to do while waiting for service is to shut off the water to the entire home.

Frank Wasily, with John Moore Services says; "Turning it off now is hopefully going to make it so it doesn't break anywhere else inside the house."  Then, call your homeowner's insurance agent and start taking pictures and video to file a claim. Insurance companies will typically ask you to do this to expedite the claim process.  Then, you will want to get at least three reputable professionals scheduled for estimates.  This will be plumbers and contractors recommended by the BBB or family and friends.  Take this time to do as much research as possible before you hire a contractor.