CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – One concern as winter weather moves into the Lowcountry is freezing pipes, which could cause them to burst. Charleston Water System explained what you can do to ensure your home is protected as freezing temps and frozen precipitation move in. They said the most important thing you can do is simply drip your faucets. Charleston Water said you just need one drip per second, and if you have a tankless water heater outside your home, you should also drop hot water. On the outside of your home, if you have a backflow preventer or irrigation system, Charleston Water officials recommend you disconnect it, cover it, and insulate it as best you can as these pipes are often the first to burst because they are outside. If you have a spigot, make sure your hose is disconnected, and you cover it up. Mike Saia, public information administrator for Charleston Water System said that if your water does not run when you turn on your faucet, this could mean that you have a frozen or broken pipe. If that happens, try to find your shut-off valve for your water and call a plumber to help you investigate. It’s a good idea to know where your main water shut-off is located. Saia said Charleston Water System is not anticipating issues from its end; however, it wants homeowners to take precautions for their homes. "From our utilities perspective, we're not very worried about our operations. The big issue here is breaks in people’s personal home plumbing. If we have death by a thousand cuts then it could really put a strain on our system,” said Saia. “Thankfully this is not happening over the holidays and a lot of people are home and should be using the water regularly, so we’re not very concerned with operationally for our own utility,” he added. Charleston Water System is available by phone 24/7. You can reach them at 843-727-6800.