POST FALLS, Idaho – Several burst pipes kept emergency crews busy over the weekend in Post Falls. Businesses, schools, apartments, a library and an assisted living center, all falling victim to the burst, and the interesting part is the fact most of it happened in Post Falls.
Most of these buildings appear to be newer, and Kootenai County Fire Chief Chris Way can’t pinpoint why most of the pipe bursts happened in Post Falls.
“It’s no different type of construction or I don’t know if it was just these buildings that were more exposed to the wind and the cold,” Kootenai County Fire Chief Chris Way said.
Weather doesn’t appear to be the source when comparing neighboring cities. The NonStop Local weather team found that Coeur d’Alene’s overnight low on Saturday was two degrees colder than Post Falls.
“We’re still assessing the damage right now. Just trying to warm up the store and dry out the walls,” Heather Alexander, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said.
Goodwill in Post Falls falling victim to this pipe burst phenomenon.
“This is the first time that we’ve had something like this happen,” Alexander said.
A first for the Goodwill and a first for many, so how can you avoid this becoming a first for you?
“If you have a pipe on an exterior wall, open up the cabinet where the pipe is,” Chief Way said, adding, you can also drip water from your faucets.
But the best way to protect hidden pipes is to have good insulation. All good advice, ahead of a warm-up in our region.
“When we see that warm-up is when we begin to worry about those thawing pipes that we haven’t, yet, seen break,” Chief Way said.
