In Ventnor, public works crews have been fielding an unusually high volume of calls as pipes continue to fail in freezing temperatures.
"Fifteen to 20 calls a day, maybe more," said John Conner, a supervisor at the Ventnor Department of Public Works.
The city has received about 130 calls for broken pipes since Friday. While Conner was being interviewed at one job, another report came in.
"The girl said a pipe burst out front," Conner said of a call from the local library.
Many of the reported breaks have occurred in empty vacation homes. Crews often work to shut off water from the street, a task made more difficult by snow and ice covering shutoff valves.
"We have to get a magic wand, we call it. A magnetic wand. The fire dept helps us out. We chop through the ice. We get to the shut off, and we shut it off at the house," Conner said.
At one Ventnor home, a pipe burst beneath the structure, prompting a response from Barron Plumbing.
"Even if the heat's on, the west wind killed it with the zero degree temps and the wind chill factor, it's been taking it to the next level, freezing up houses," said Chuck Barron, owner of Barron Plumbing.
Nearby Ocean City has also seen an increase in emergency calls related to frozen and burst pipes, according to fire officials.
"It's caused some significant damage to the properties. Some of them impacted electrical systems. Heating systems," said Ocean City Fire Chief Bernie Walker.
Officials are urging homeowners to take preventive steps during prolonged cold spells, particularly those who do not live at the shore year-round.
"Make sure your crawl spaces are boarded up, make sure your Louver vents are sealed," Conner said.
He also advised residents to keep indoor temperatures higher than they might prefer.
"Make sure your heat is set at least 65 degrees. I know people don't want to hear that. It's better to pay $500 more on your electric bill than $5,000 for a plumber," said Conner.
Authorities stress that part-time residents should check on their properties or arrange for someone else to do so during extreme weather.
They also ask the public not to ignore visible water gushing from a home or property, urging anyone who sees it to call their town's non-emergency police line or the local water company.