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When outside temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, your pipes are at risk of freezing. To prevent this, set your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees. For added safety, especially when you are away from home, maintaining a temperature between 55 and 60 degrees will provide enough warmth to keep pipes from freezing and help you avoid expensive water damage from burst pipes.

The key difference between a standard spigot (or regular hose bib) and a frost-free hose bib is its design to prevent freezing and pipe bursting during cold weather. A standard spigot is a basic outdoor faucet. In contrast, a frost-free hose bib has a longer stem that extends into the heated interior of the house, placing the shut-off valve inside where it's protected from freezing temperatures. This design, often combined with a downward-sloping supply pipe, ensures water drains out of the faucet body when turned off, preventing ice formation. This allows you to leave the water supply on year-round without the risk of pipe damage, making it a valuable choice for regions with harsh winters.

For a long time, copper was our only plumbing material option. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. Copper pipes have been used since the 1940s and became most popular around 1963. It wasn’t until the 1990s that PVC pipes became popular and began to replace copper pipes. Therefore, a house built before the 1990s without recent updates will likely contain more copper pipes.

You can temporarily patch a leaking copper pipe using epoxy putty or adhesive tape. These are not permanent solutions, and you will eventually need to remove and replace the damaged portion of the pipe. 

For a smaller pinhole, you can solder it closed using plumbing flux. Again, this is only a temporary solution, but it will give you time to hire a plumber and go over your options.