Frozen pipes affect local businesses

PITTSBURGH — Several local businesses reported varying effects of the freezing cold temperatures Tuesday.

Plumbers reported receiving calls from businesses all over the area about frozen pipes.

The Pizza Hut in Bellevue was open Tuesday, but operated without water lines.

“I’ve been here for nine years, and it’s been cold, but I’ve never had it where I had the water on and it still froze,” said manager Roger Mahaffey.

The Starbucks in Market Square was also open Tuesday, but they needed help from professionals to thaw the pipes.

“If the whole store is frozen, it could take up to an hour (to thaw a pipe),” said Steve Buchleitner, of Mongiovi and Sons Plumbing.

Buchleitner and other plumbers told Channel 11’s Renee Kaminski that they anticipate being busier on Wednesday as some pipes are expected to burst.

WPXI