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Under normal circumstances, you don’t need to turn interior water off if it’s cold outside. But if you plan to be away during cold weather for more than a day, turning off the water can help prevent freezing and burst pipes. If you lose heat, turning off the water can help to keep pipes from freezing as well. You should turn off exterior pipes for sprinklers or outdoor irrigation for the season once temperatures begin to fall in the late fall and early winter.

Most people tend to use outdoor spigots more frequently in the summer. Watering plants, filling kiddie pools, having neighborhood water fights, and washing cars and pets are all outdoor activities people do when it's hot and sunny. The heat causes the pipes to expand, weakening the metal and creating cracks. The sudden spike in water use combined with this effect is why pipes burst often in the summer.

While gasket-sealed PVC flanges are the type most commonly found in homes, flanges come in a range of different materials, including copper, brass, stainless steel, cast iron, and aluminum, that pros sometimes secure with glue. If this is the case in your bathroom, the replacement is a job better left to the pros.

When water stops flowing from your outdoor spigot, always begin by making sure it's been opened for the season. Winterized hose bibs need to be turned back on from the indoor water source in the spring. Other culprits when fixing an outdoor water spigot include:

• Debris blocking the pipe

• Broken washer

• Loose and leaking packing nut

• Issues with your home's water supply

Call a local plumber if you are not able to find the issue by opening the water valve or checking the washer and packing nut. There could be a problem further up the pipe that needs attention.