With extreme cold temperatures on the way, you may want to give some extra thought to preventing frozen pipes.

 

Eddy Mason with Mason's Plumbing says your best bet is to be proactive.

 

For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. To prevent drafts, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation.

 

Mason advises letting the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing. He also recommends checking for to make sure your tub or sink is not plugged to avoid a water overrun giving you a very wet floor.

 

Mason says to turn off the water at the main shutoff valve if a pipe has broken.

 

If you suspect a more serious problem, you may want to consider calling a plumber.