VIRGINIA — With a dose of Arctic air freezing Northern Virginia on Saturday, temperatures have dropped from the 50s to a few degrees under the freezing mark. Patch has tips on how to keep your pipes from freezing and potentially bursting.

The DC-Northern Virginia region will see a high of 33 degrees on Saturday, according to AccuWeather.com, and the low overnight will be 28 degrees. With the wind chill, it could feel as cold as 20 degrees by Sunday morning.

It's important to know how to prevent your home's water pipes from freezing. Frozen water pipes in unheated basements and crawl spaces can be messy and expensive to fix. But if you have a frozen faucet, there are steps you can take to safely thaw out a water line without burning down the house.

Fire officials say it's important during cold spells to monitor automatic sprinkler systems, fire pumps, hoses and hydrants. Whether or not pipes in these systems actually burst, any freezing of water can block water flow needed in case of fire.

Follow these tips from the American Red Cross, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Howard County Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Utilities and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services:

There are three common causes of frozen pipes: 1. Quick drops in temperature 2. Poor insulation 3. Thermostats set too low

Luckily, there are a number of preventative steps you can take to keep your pipes from freezing:

To prevent ice from forming in pipes due to freezing temperatures and to prevent the pipes from bursting, experts recommend that you:

If you have a pipe that bursts, AAA Mid-Atlantic shared these tips to help you file and manage insurance claims.

Water expands as it freezes. This expansion puts extreme pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor water faucets, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Also, pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.

A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can leak up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the immediate potential for mold.

In the U.S., frozen pipes cause significant damage every year, but they often can be prevented. Taking a few simple steps, even now, may save you trouble and expense.

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