Experts say homeowners should take precautions to avoid frozen pipes and other weather-related problems this time of year.

When water in a pipe freezes, it expands, and that can burst a pipe and lead to serious damage throughout the house.

In one Westport home, a dirty air filter cut off heat and could have resulted in costly repairs. Air filters are supposed to be changed once a month.

Other things that can lead to frozen pipes include a drop in the house's temperature or the location of pipes on exterior walls.

"Don't turn the thermostats down," says Jim Tursi, a field supervisor with Standard Oil. "Make sure all the vents are clean. Make sure air filters are clear and everything is away from radiators, so you can get enough heat in the house."

Experts say the minimum heat to keep your house at is 55 degrees, even when the home is empty.

"In weather like this we need all of the heat that the equipment can produce," Tursi says. "We're seeing pipes freeze in a half-hour. People are turning heat down, going to bed. In the morning, they wake up to turn the heat back up, and it's not coming on."