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Water pipes will unfreeze once temperatures stay above freezing long enough to thaw. As things warm up, you might hear gurgling and banging sounds from the pipes. It can take a while for the pipes to unfreeze, and they won’t without help if temperatures stay below freezing. Open cupboard doors, turn up the heat, and get out hair dryers, heat guns, space heaters, and heat lamps to speed up the thawing process. If you live where it’s frequently below freezing, consider whether pipe insulation is worth installing.

The time it takes to fix a leaking pipe is determined by the location of the leak, the extent of the damage, and the experience level of the person completing this task. Leaks from exposed pipes should only take an hour or so, but that can increase to several hours if a significant section of pipe needs to be replaced. Pipes in walls or ceilings will take two to six hours, while complex underground pipe repairs can take multiple days.

It is generally safe to stay in a house that smells like sewage for a short time, but you should get the problem fixed as soon as possible. While the level of sewer gas is usually low enough to only cause minor symptoms, prolonged inhalation can lead to headaches, nausea, or respiratory irritation. High levels of gas exposure can be more dangerous, and high concentrations of methane—a component of sewer gas—can pose an explosion risk in enclosed spaces. If you smell sewer gas in your home, ventilate the area and call a professional to locate, assess, and fix the problem, as it will not go away on its own.

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipes are considered one of the best pipe types for drains and vent lines due to their low price point, lightweight material, corrosion resistance, and installation ease. But copper has long been considered the best piping option due to its durability. For many homeowners, though, the price of copper can be cost-prohibitive.