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 back pressure valve is a control valve used on production vessels, such as separators, treaters, and free water knockouts. The valve holds pressure until a set point is reached, and then releases upstream pressure to reset. Back pressure valves are not safety mechanisms. Instead, they are regulators designed to keep the fluid, gas, or liquid mixture in a system at a certain pressure level to prevent bursts and other incidents.

Meanwhile, a backflow preventer is a safety mechanism that kicks in when the pressure has already failed and contaminated water flows in the reverse direction. Most backflow preventers consist of two one-way valves, or check valves assembled together. This design only allows water to pass through in one direction but not the other.

For easy-to-access pipes, your plumber will shut off the main water line and replace the pipes without demolishing your property. Underground or difficult-to-access pipes require different approaches. There are two ways to replace underground cast iron pipes: trench and trenchless sewer line replacements. Trenchless replacements result in minimal damage to your yard and involve bursting pipes and replacing them with new ones via an access point.

Both plumbing inspection cost and length can vary widely based on the specifics of a property. For a larger home, historic home, or rental complex, a full plumbing inspection can take a full day. Put aside at least eight hours from the start of the visit to ensure that you'll be available to answer any of the plumber's questions. However, a thorough inspection of the average one-story to two-story home lasts just two to three hours.