EAST TROY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With wind chill temps dipping to -40 degrees, a local HVAC expert says the concern of pipes freezing in homes is a real one. 

"Most homes these days have a sink with an outside window. The problem with that is most of your pipes are running along the outside the wall," said Jason Neider, a service manager at O'Leary Plumbing, Heating and Electrical. 

There are some things you should do if you think your pipes are at risk of freezing. 

- Open sink cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom

- Use space heaters nearby in kitchen and bathroom

- Run a drip of cold water to keep prevent stagnant water from freezing in pipes

Neider encourages you to call your nearest HVAC specialist right away, but he says with more people in need it may take longer to get someone into your home. 

He also wants people to know that you may need to clear your furnace exhaust pipe if ice freezes around it. If carbon monoxide isn't able to get through, it may cause your furnace to shut down.