With the winter season approaching, it's important for homeowners to know how to protect their homes from burst pipes and flooding.

Michael Petri, the owner of Petri Plumbing and Heating in Dyker Heights, says this is the time of year when pipes are most likely to freeze and burst. He says it's most common on very cold days when there is wind, and it often happens when there is a draft hitting the pipes.

If the water freezes and starts to expand, it can burst pipes, which can result in thousands of dollars in damage.

To prevent this, homeowners are advised to keep faucets lightly dripping so the water flows and is less likely to freeze.

Insulating pipes and connectors from the cold is also advisable.

If the water does freeze, keeping the faucets on is helpful so the water has somewhere to escape once it melts.

Keeping the heat at home at least 68 degrees is another tip.

Burst pipes and flooding often happens when nobody is home, the heat is off and the water is off. Petri says the best way to prevent that is to turn the water valve off at home if people will be gone for a few days.