To protect your home from frozen pipes:

1 If you leave your home during the winter months, turn off the main valve to your water supply and drain your faucets.

2 Disconnect all garden hoses and wrap all outdoor faucets with some type of insulating material. Cover the insulation with plastic to keep out moisture.

3 Cover foundation vent holes to keep your crawl space warmer.

4 Insulate any exposed pipes. Use heat tape if necessary.

5 During extended periods of freezing temperatures, keep a trickle of water running from your indoor faucets to keep pipes from freezing. A small trickle may cost a few extra cents but will save you a large expense of frozen or broken pipes. You may also want to keep cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around pipes and drains.

6 If you are going to be away from your home for a few days, keep your heating system turned on to a low temperature so that some heat is available to keep pipes from freezing.

If your pipes do freeze:

1 Turn off the main water supply at the valve. If the pipe is broken, turning the water off will reduce the amount of damage that may occur as the pipe thaws. When you're without water, you should also turn off your water heater to prevent damage to it.

2 If you know where the frozen pipe is and it's easily accessible, you may want to try to thaw it yourself. Some helpful tip are: pouring hot water on the pipe, using an electric hair dryer, or heat lamp. Do not use a propane torch or any other type of open flame.

3 If you cannot find the frozen pipe or thaw it yourself, your best bet is to call a plumber.