Frozen pipes and the threat of frostbite have plagued the area since the arctic chill set in at the start of the new year.

The record for the coldest January is held in 1994 at a minus 22 degrees. Less than two weeks into 2018, the average temperature has settled at 18 degrees and is not expected to reach above freezing until Monday’s winter thaw of 30 degrees.

The frigid conditions are challenging the local heating companies that are struggling to keep up with the high demand.

Erica Pribila, home comfort specialties at R.F. Ohl Inc., said the phones have been ringing off the hook from 8 a.m. until closing time since last week.

Everyone from the office staff to the delivery drivers have put in an extra hour of work each day with some even working all weekend long to meet the needs of customers.

“This week has been insane,” she said.

“I’ve heard people wonder if there is an oil shortage. There isn’t, but we only have so many drivers and so many hours in a day.”

Pribila said Ohl has been running six trucks with 50 deliveries a day.

“Each truck holds 3,000 gallons of oil or propane and we have been refilling them five times a day,” she said.

“We have a no run-out guarantee, so when people run out they received $125 free fuel. We had to deliver that a couple of times this week.”

Ohl puts existing automatic fill customers at the top of its priority list, making the demand this week a challenge in helping new customers.

“We service five counties already. People from Minersville, Pottsville and Hazleton have been calling us because other companies are in the same boat,” she said.

A note was posted on Fegley Oil, located in Tamaqua, illustrating Pribila’s point.

“Due to extreme weather and large number of heating oil and propane orders received, our truck delivery times have become difficult to predict. Currently new orders are being taken for next week delivery,” the site states.

Pribila advises to keep an eye on the home’s fuel heating levels and to call before it dips below half full.

“Be responsible. Don’t wait until the last minute. You have to check your tank or be on automatic delivery,” she said.

“You can give the responsibility to the company to keep it full by signing up for automatic delivery.”

The home comfort specialist also suggests keeping the thermostat at a reasonable temperature.

“Put an extra blanket on the bed,” she said.

Joe O’Donnell has been delivering propane for Ohl for 14 years and says he hasn’t seen the cold temperatures last as long in previous years.

“I’ve seen it colder years ago, but not this long.”

According to the driver, people have been relying on space heaters to supplement the warmth in their homes and not closely watching their fuel levels.

“We’re having a lot of people run out,” he said.

“We are going through 9,000 gallons a day.”

The cold snap is anticipated to break Monday with a predicted temperature of 31 degrees. Over the weekend the blast is expected to keep its icy grip on the thermometer, with numbers below 20 degrees.