Not sure how to prepare for arctic cold front? Here are the best ways to winterize your home

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- With a strong arctic cold front sweeping across Texas on Thursday, the city of Houston is preparing with several warming centers opening across the area.

SEE RELATED STORY: Thursday, Friday are Weather Alert Days with arriving arctic front and a hard freeze

The George R. Brown Convention Center is set to open at 3 p.m. Thursday for Houstonians to keep warm.

In the meantime, city officials are urging homeowners to prepare before the temperature drops.

Here are some ways to winterize your home:

• Keep the heat on inside your home, even if you are away

• Open up the cabinet doors to allow warm air to hit your pipes

• Overnight on Thursday and into Friday, flush your toilets and turn on your faucet

• Insulate your pipes outside. They sell insulation at the hardware store. If they run out, a pool noodle will actually work

We also have a reminder on things not to do to keep your house warm.

"You never want to use the oven as a source of heat. You have carbon monoxide coming into the home. If you start feeling a headache, dizziness, nausea, fainting, any of those symptoms, you want to get out into fresh air and call 911," Jeremy Hyde, the Harris County EMS chief, said.

SEE RELATED STORY: Here's where you can go to keep warm when arctic blast hits Houston this week

If you're in need of a warm place to stay starting Wednesday night, Green House International Church at 200 West Greens Road in Greenspoint is also opening their doors at 6 p.m.

Lakewood Church at 3700 Southwest Freeway will also be opening up as a warming center at 5 p.m. Thursday.

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