There won’t be any chicken katsu, waffle fries or onion rings coming out of Uncle’s Snack Shop for the time being, after frozen pipes burst and flooded the place, forcing the Richmond restaurant to close.
“It rained for a full day inside,” the restaurant’s owner Osric Chau told the Richmond News.
“The damage is still being assessed as we’re still trying to dry the space,” he added.
A statement posted by Uncle’s Snack Shop on Instagram on Jan. 3, said the restaurant – located on 8180 Westminster Highway near No. 3 Road – is closed until further notice, but will be sure to keep everyone posted.
Chau told the Richmond News the pipes in the empty units above them had frozen and burst.
Uncle’s Snack Shop isn’t alone in dealing with burst pipes following the recent icy temperatures.
A few local plumbing companies told the News they have recently experienced higher-than-normal emergency calls, with most of them related to burst pipes.
A staff member at Westrim Plumbing & Heating in Richmond, said calls just keep coming in, and all of their technicians have been out all day since early morning.
Meanwhile, Terence Chan, owner of Richmond-based Impetus Plumbing and Heating Company, said the most frustrating part is that many people expect same-day service, but the bad weather conditions is taking them longer to get to the various jobs.
Chan also offers tips to keep pipes from freezing:
• Turn on faucets and leave the water running;
• Ensure pipes along outside walls are insulated;
• Older homeowners need to look ahead of time to change pipes;
• Turn off your water if you’re leaving the house for a few days.
