After a mild winter last year, another cold, potentially snowy winter is upon us, and while we know to bundle up to keep warm, our pipes need to stay warm as well. A burst pipe can cause significant damage, so here are some tips to help avoid frozen pipes:

• Remove hoses from outside faucets to allow proper drainage.
• Insulate areas where vulnerable pipes are located, or use pipe wrappings embedded with electrical coils that provide an outside source of heat.
• Open the doors to the cabinets under your kitchen and bathroom sinks so heat from the room will help warm the pipes.
• Running water doesn’t freeze very readily, so during severe cold weather, keep a stream of water trickling out of faucets.