Frozen pipes can cost you big bucks

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Frigid temperatures are expected to stick around Southern New England for the next few days.

As we continue to face this cold stretch, some homeowners are facing the issue of frozen pipes.

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Frozen pipes can cause serious damage and leave homeowners without heat or water.

"Especially in the single digits it only takes about 20-25 minutes for pipes to freeze. Once they start to freeze, they'll start to expand and when they thaw out they'll break", said Larry Gemma from Gem Plumbing and Heating.

Gemma says there are several tips homeowners can take to avoid this problem.

The first tip? Turn up the heat.

"The more the water circulates through your baseboard heating, the safer it is for it not to freeze", Gemma said.

Circulating the warm air throughout your home can also help. Opening closet doors, cupboards and even ceiling tiles will allow air to flow.

Homeowners should also check for drafty areas and insulate them.

Outdoor faucets should also be turned off.

If your pipes do freeze, Gemma says the first thing to do is to turn off your water supply.

"The water will do a lot of damage to the home. So know where to shut the water off so you can minimize the damage", said Gemma.

Plumbing problems are so common in freezing temperatures that Gem Plumbing estimates its call volume jumps from about 150 to 500 calls.