Manhattan, Illinois-As the temperature drops and Manhattan gets closer and closer to winter, if you want to avoid arguably one of the most troublesome problems in cold weather: pipes freeze, it's time to start planning.

The frozen water pipe is no joke. Water expands when it freezes, exerting tremendous pressure on the pipes and possibly causing them to burst. This is not only messy, but also expensive to repair.

However, in the long run, a little planning can save you a lot of pain.

The most common causes of pipe freezing are often rapid drops in temperature, poor insulation, and low thermostat settings.

Fortunately, you can take some precautions to prevent the pipeline from freezing. Consumer Reports provides the following five tips to prevent pipeline freezing this winter:

If the pipeline bursts, try these tips provided by AAA Mid-Atlantic to submit and manage insurance claims: