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Pipes most often burst during winter and early spring because those seasons experience the coldest temperatures that can freeze pipes. Pipes typically begin to freeze when the outside temperature falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit—but it’s not a hard and fast rule.

The largest risk is any period of time when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing for six hours or more. That’s an average winter night in many areas of the United States, so it’s best to take precautions before winter begins, like insulating your pipes.

A sewage ejector pump is necessary if you have any plumbing fixtures, such as a bathroom, laundry room, or sink, located below the level of your home's main sewer line. Standard plumbing relies on gravity to move wastewater and solid waste to the municipal sewer or septic tank. However, for fixtures located below grade (e.g., in a basement), gravity is not sufficient.

The purpose of a sewage ejector pump is to actively pump this wastewater and solid waste upward into the main sewer line. Without an ejector pump in this situation, wastewater would have no way to exit and would eventually back up, causing a sewage overflow or flooding in your basement. If all of your home's plumbing is on the main floor or higher, gravity can handle the drainage, and an ejector pump is not needed.

You can use normal solder, which consists of a tin and copper alloy, on copper pipes. You should avoid using leaded solder, especially if you're soldering together water supply lines, as it will contaminate drinking water. One way to test if your copper pipes contain lead is to scrape off the solder. If the scraped area is shiny, it likely contains lead.

Pipes in your house can freeze after six hours or so if you lose power and temperatures are below freezing. You can prepare for potential power outages by winterizing your pipes with insulation. Also, whenever temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, turn your faucets on very low and leave them dripping until temperatures rise.