Plumber offers home advice ahead of subfreezing temperatures

Before temperatures plummet this week, there are steps you can take to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Greenville Plumber Walt Pollard says homes with crawl spaces and manufactured homes with underpinning are most at risk. He advises closing the crawl space vents and securing underpinning to homes to prevent cold air from circulating around the pipes.

Pollard says it's also a good idea to wrap pipes in foam or insulation, if possible. He says pipes most likely to freeze and break are those leading to outdoor spigots.

Garden hoses also need to be disconnected and Pollard suggests opening the spigot just enough for it to drip. Pollard adds that kitchen sinks are often found next to exterior walls and it's not a bad idea to let them drip as well.

Keep in mind, he says most important of all is to know how to turn your water off in the event that a pipe does break.

"If you have a pipe burst inside a home, it can lead to a lot of damage," says Pollard. "Being able to shut off your water quickly would certainly minimize any damage that could arise from that."

Pollard says most homes typically have a shut off valve located in a downstairs closet near the floor. Others require a water key and have to be turned off in the yard.

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Plumber offers home advice ahead of subfreezing temperatures