(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Bitterly cold weather arrives in the Chicago area this weekend, and a plumber says there are simple ways to reduce the risk that your water pipes will freeze.
Mike Garritano of ABC Plumbing recommends running a trickle of water from a faucet, since moving water is much less likely to freeze.
He suggests emptying cabinets below kitchen and bathroom sinks and leaving the cabinet doors open, so that heat from your home can get to those pipes.
He also recommends applying electrified heat tape to pipes along exterior walls or in crawl spaces that are at greatest risk of freezing.
If your pipes do freeze, Garritano says don't try to thaw them by using a flame or another heat source because that increases the risk of burst pipes or fire.
He says the best thing to do when pipes freeze is to hire a professional to thaw them.
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