Frozen water pipes are a major cause for concern for Union County, NJ homeowners.  As you may have heard, forecasters are calling for a dramatic drop in temperature as the day progresses. New Jersey could experience record lows tonight and tomorrow. The time to prepare is now. Here are some quick and easy tips to prevent the water pipes in your home from freezing and potentially causing an expensive mess:

• Let cold water trickle from the faucets in your home. Turn off water leading to outside faucets and open those taps to drain any water remaining in the pipes.

• Keep garage doors closed, especially if you have water supply lines in the garage.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm arm to reach the plumbing. Be sure to move any cleaners or chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature throughout this cold spell. You may incur a higher heating bill, but you will be preventing a more costly repair job. If you are leaving town, set the temperature in your home to no lower than 65º F.