By Reg Chapman, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The two coldest days of winter are most likely right around the corner. While the extreme cold is uncomfortable for us, it can also do a number on homeowners’ houses.

These frigid temperatures, plus some carelessness, could mean a mess inside a nice, warm home.

Frozen pipes can mean water all over and thousands of dollars in damage, but there are a few simple steps that can be done to prevent them.

For one, leave a trickle of water on at the highest and lowest faucet in the house. It keeps water moving through the pipes.

Secondly, if you have a sink next to an outside wall, leave the cabinet doors open, which will let warmer air in.

Most importantly, don’t set the thermostat too low.

Now, those are all things can be done today, but it’s best to think about it in the fall. That way, you can add insulation to areas that need it and do things like turn off outside faucets that freeze up and need replacing when it warms up.