CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With frigid temperatures barreling down on Chicago, there's a potential for frozen and burst water pipes.
Scott Milas, plumber by trade and manager at Mendel Plumbing in St. Charles, said the simplest way to prevent your water pipes from freezing over the next few days is to leave hot and cold water trickling from a faucet in each bathroom.
"That’ll keep the water flowing through the piping, help prevent it from freezing from Point A to Point B…typically that’ll do the trick, particularly in an older home," he said.
Milas said that, if you find your pipes have frozen, you could try using a hair dryer or heat gun to thaw them. He warns against using any kind of an open flame.
Other experts said that, when thawing pipes, start from nearest the faucet and move towards the water source.
If a pipe bursts, Milas said you should turn off your house’s water at the main, open all the faucets to let out any water in the pipes which would ease the pressure on the system. Then, call a professional.
Milas said Mendel Plumbing has dealt with a couple of instances of frozen pipes so far this winter, but he's expecting many, many more in the next few days.