AS MANY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA RECOVER AND THAW FROM THIS WEEKEND’S FREEZE. ONE GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS IS WORKING OVERTIME, AND THAT WOULD BE PLUMBERS. WESH 2 NEWS MICHELLE MEREDITH IS LIVE IN SANFORD, WHERE SHE GOT A FEEL FOR WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE OUT THERE FOR PLUMBING COMPANIES. MICHELLE. MOST PLUMBERS I CALLED WERE TOO BUSY TO TALK TO ME, MUCH LESS LET ME FOLLOW THEM AROUND. BUT I DID HAVE SUCCESS AND IT FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. EVER SINCE OUR WEEKEND FREEZE. THIS HAS BEEN BOBBIE LEE’S LIFE. THEY GOT THE WATER SHUT OFF. MAKING CALL AFTER CALL. HE’S THE OWNER OF A CENTRAL FLORIDA PLUMBING COMPANY, APPROPRIATELY CALLED A PLUMBER NEAR ME. WE’RE ACTUALLY. WE’RE BOOKING OUT UNTIL 10:00 EACH NIGHT RIGHT NOW, AND WE’RE ALREADY TAKING CALLS FOR THURSDAY. SO SOME PEOPLE MAY BE WITHOUT WATER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. AND WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM? HE’S GETTING CALLS ABOUT? BOBBIE SAYS IT’S THE LONELY, OFTEN OVERLOOKED BACKFLOW PREVENTER. NOW, THIS IS A GIGANTIC ONE. OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS. IT’S SHOOTING WATER LIKE A GEYSER DRIPPING WITH ICICLES. BECAUSE THE FREEZE CAUSED A SMALL CRACK, YOU CAN BARELY SEE. SO WHAT IS A BACKFLOW? WELL, YOU’RE LOOKING AT ONE, AND THE CITY WATER COMES IN HERE. YOUR WATER COMES IN HERE. LET’S SAY THE CITY CUTS OFF THE WATER AND IT CREATES A VACUUM. LIKE. AND SO IT PREVENTS YOUR WATER FROM GETTING INTO THE CITY SYSTEM BECAUSE IT MIGHT CONTAMINATE THE CITY WATER. AND YOUR WATER DUMPS OUT HERE. THE PARTS YOU’RE SAYING SOLD OUT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CREW THAT’S GOING TO TAMPA TO TRY TO BUY A BUNCH OF THESE BACK FLOWS. AND THEY’RE TELLING US THAT ONCE EVERYTHING IS SOLD OUT HERE, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE IT’S A NATIONWIDE ISSUE. IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE SNOWPOCALYPSE. TEXAS SAW IN 2021. BOBBY USED TO LIVE THERE, HAD HIS LICENSE, BOUGHT A VAN, MATERIALS, DROVE TO TEXAS AND MADE ENOUGH MONEY TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS. SHUT DOWN THERE FOR A WEEK AND SOLD OUT OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE EVERY HOUSE WAS FROZEN AND SOME PEOPLE WEREN’T ABLE TO GET THEIR WATER BACK UP AND RUNNING FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS. BACK HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, SINCE SOME FOLKS COULD GET ANOTHER NIGHT OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES, EXPERTS SAY INSIDE, KEEP THOSE FAUCETS DRIPPING OUTSIDE. TAKE THE HOSE OFF THE SPIGOT, WRAP THE SPIGOT. AND WRAP THAT BACKFLOW. NOW, THERE ARE SPECIAL MATERIALS YOU CAN BUY TO DO THAT, BUT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
Central Florida plumbers face high demand after weekend freeze
Updated: 6:39 PM EST Feb 2, 2026
Plumbers in Central Florida are working overtime to address issues caused by the recent freeze, with backflow preventers being the most common problem. Bobby Lee, owner of “A Plumber Near Me,” has been inundated with calls. “We are booking out until about 10 o’clock each night, and right now, we’re already taking calls for Thursday. So some people might be without water for a couple of days,” Lee said.The primary issue Lee is encountering involves backflow preventers, which are often overlooked. A large backflow preventer outside a business was seen shooting water like a geyser and dripping with icicles due to a small crack caused by the freeze. The backflow preventer is designed to prevent contamination of city water by dumping household water when a vacuum is created during a city water shutdown.Lee noted that parts for backflow preventers are currently sold out in Central Florida.”Right now we have a crew that’s going to Tampa to try to buy a bunch of these backflows, and once they sell out here, we are going to have to buy from the manufacturer because it is a nationwide issue,” he said.Reflecting on his experience during the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse, Lee recalled, “Shot there, for a week, because every house was frozen, and some people were not able to get their water back up and running for three to four weeks.”With the possibility of another night of freezing temperatures in Central Florida, experts advise residents to keep faucets dripping and to take precautions such as removing hoses from spigots and wrapping them. Residents are also advised to wrap their backflow preventers, using special materials from hardware stores or even a towel for protection.
Plumbers in Central Florida are working overtime to address issues caused by the recent freeze, with backflow preventers being the most common problem.
Bobby Lee, owner of “A Plumber Near Me,” has been inundated with calls.
“We are booking out until about 10 o’clock each night, and right now, we’re already taking calls for Thursday. So some people might be without water for a couple of days,” Lee said.
The primary issue Lee is encountering involves backflow preventers, which are often overlooked.
A large backflow preventer outside a business was seen shooting water like a geyser and dripping with icicles due to a small crack caused by the freeze.
The backflow preventer is designed to prevent contamination of city water by dumping household water when a vacuum is created during a city water shutdown.
Lee noted that parts for backflow preventers are currently sold out in Central Florida.
“Right now we have a crew that’s going to Tampa to try to buy a bunch of these backflows, and once they sell out here, we are going to have to buy from the manufacturer because it is a nationwide issue,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience during the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse, Lee recalled, “Shot there, for a week, because every house was frozen, and some people were not able to get their water back up and running for three to four weeks.”
With the possibility of another night of freezing temperatures in Central Florida, experts advise residents to keep faucets dripping and to take precautions such as removing hoses from spigots and wrapping them.
Residents are also advised to wrap their backflow preventers, using special materials from hardware stores or even a towel for protection.