How to protect your plumbing from the cold

To avoid frozen pipes, let water trickle overnight from indoor faucets served by exposed pipes.
Keep the heat set on at least 55 degrees. If your water pipes are not insulated, install pipe sleeves.
Outdoors, disconnect garden hoses. Drain and cover faucets.
Open cupboard doors under sinks on outside walls so pipes are exposed to inside heat.
If your pipes do freeze, it is best to call a licensed plumber.
If you try to thaw the frozen pipe yourself, be sure to take the following precautions:
• Do not use an open flame. You risk setting the home on fire, and overheating one area can cause the pipe to burst.
• Place a warm towel or rag around the pipe.
• Shut off the water valve to the frozen pipe.
• Keep the faucet of the frozen pipe open so water can flow out as it melts.
• Make sure you know the location of your master shut-off valve. The frozen pipe may already be broken and, when the water is thawed, it will leak. In this case, you will need to shut off the water in your home until the leaky pipe is fixed.