With temperatures plunging, local experts are warning homeowners take extra precautions to prevent frozen pipes.

“The No. 1 way to get a frozen pipe in a house is to have no heat in that house,” said Chris Petri, the operations manager at Petri Plumbing.

When water inside a pipe freezes, it expands, which can cause the pipe to burst. Petri says this can happen faster than most people think.

To avoid costly repairs, Petri recommends keeping the heat on, setting the thermostat to at least 65 degrees, and letting faucets drip to keep water flowing through pipes.

If a pipe does burst, knowing where the main water shut-off valve ahead of time is can help minimize damage.

For those in apartment buildings, Petri advises contacting a building superintendent immediately.