CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- First there was the freeze, then there was the thaw, and through it all, there have been burst pipes everywhere.
Pipes have burst at Macy's in downtown in Chicago, the University of Chicago, the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin and countless other homes and businesses throughout the Chicago area.
All those burst pipes — along with broken furnaces — are keeping people like John Cahill very busy.
Cahill runs John J. Cahill Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning in Evanston, which has been in business for more than 125 years.
He said crews have been working "around the clock" and he has barely been able to sleep these days.
Cahill has about 20 crew members who have been responding to about 75 jobs per day since the Polar Vortex hit and they are booked solid into next week, despite the weekend thaw.
Cahill said the problem often starts with the heating system sometimes failing.
"Then the pipes, after that point when it gets to a certain temperature — they burst," Cahill said. "It's also a combination with a lot of wind during that time, which gets into the walls and freezes the pipes."
Other tips include opening kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes and keep garage doors closed, according to Consumer Reports post from earlier this month. Check out our list of tips to make sure you aren't the one with burst pipes. Hint: a hair dryer might be useful.