Another cold-weather home danger is water pipes that freeze and then burst. If a pipe in an enclosed area is frozen, put in a light bulb and close the door. The lit bulb will gradually thaw the pipe or fixture. If you can get at the pipe, use a hair drier or heat gun set on low. Never use a propane torch or even the high setting on a heat gun.
Intense heat can start a house fire.
If a faucet or toilet tends to freeze, let it drip by turning the handle or wedging the flapper ball up slightly. You can also rent a commercial pipe thawer, which is a low-voltage transformer with a pair of cables that runs current through the pipe and melts ice from the inside out. Another option is to use commercial blower heaters to circulate hot air and gradually thaw pipes.