The Lazy Tulip Cafe is open for business after frozen pipes forced the Maple Street business to shut down on the long weekend.
"It was a pretty heavy hit for a little business," said employee Courtney Dubois. "Valentine's Day weekend and Family Day. A lot of businesses along the strip are closed Family Day so we really missed out on some business there."
The water pipes in the kitchen froze overnight Friday during the weekend deep freeze that saw temperatures dip to the minus 30's.
No water meant no clean dishes, fresh-brewed coffee or use of the washroom.
Dubois says the pipes froze around the same time last year but a heater installed then failed to prevent another freeze this year.
A plumber has now insulated the pipes and moved them away from exterior walls.
Dubois hopes the problem is solved.
"I actually had to take a bunch of dishes over to our friend The Grilled Cheese Social Eatery to try and clean this place up because I couldn't do any dishes," laughed Dubois. "I was walking down the street with a little milk crate, freezing cold."
Samantha Hoffmann, Barrie Fire Public Fire and Life Safety Officer says never use open flame to thaw frozen pipes.
She provided these tips from the National Fire Protection Association and the Red Cross:
During Cold Weather, Take Preventative Action
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing. The increased water bill will be much lower that the cost of a burst/frozen pipe.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
To Thaw Frozen Pipes
- If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
- Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. If you are using a portable heater, make sure that it is one designed to be used indoors, and do not use it with an extension cord as the power draw is very high. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
- Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
- Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.
