With the recent cold snap and expected thaw, heating companies have had an increase in calls this week.

‘Tis the season for frozen pipes, busted water lines and broken furnaces.

HVAC technicians recommend keeping cabinets doors open, letting the faucet run and cleaning the furnace filter. They said even an expected mid-week warm-up could do more harm than good. 

"Pipes freezing to rain and thaw, which is going to create a flooding condition,” said John Dollendorf, a manager with Roy’s Plumbing. “Sump-pumps are going to work, sewers could back up, there's other issues we could have on top of this.”

Experts also urge people not to heat their home with their stove, and to thaw pipes with a hair dryer, not an open flame.