Jeff Logan, master plumber with Scenic City Plumbing, offers some suggestions to avoid burst pipes when temperatures are really low:
* Turn on a small stream of lukewarm water about the thickness of a pencil lead on the faucet the furthest away from the water heater so you get a flow of water coming from the heater, because sometimes the hot water heater will freeze up.
* In houses with crawlspaces and foundation vents, the vents need to be closed off with cardboard or other material. Sometimes the wind can cause a draft to come through the crawlspace and it can freeze the pipes faster if left exposed.
* Ensure that pipes are insulated and keep them warm. Consider applying heat to attics and garages that contain pipes.
* Open up cabinets under any faucets and fixtures that are located on an outside wall to keep them warm.