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Be sure to consider how often you may need access to your pipes in the future. This can help you decide if you want to install a basic PVC backflow preventer or spring for a clear or removable one. 

If you think you’ll need access to your plumbing often, or if your pipes have a history of problems, it’s probably worth spending a little more for something you can look into without removing the backwater preventer.

Even though their jobs sound similar—both professions work on pipes—a plumber and pipefitter actually have very different jobs, and pipefitting isn’t considered plumbing. Pipefitting is done in commercial and industrial buildings and factories, and the pipes carry gas, chemicals, acid, and other potentially hazardous substances. Pipefitters often work in intense conditions while plumbers may work in lower-pressure environments.

Older faucet fixtures may have some corrosion, leaving them stuck. Try a few techniques to loosen the fixtures.

• Wrap the fixture with a towel and tap the base with a hammer.

• Use a putty knife to gently remove any caulk that may be holding the handle or fixture in place.

• Apply a few drops of penetrating oil around the base of the fixture or around the nuts.

• Purchase a faucet pulling tool to pop the fixture loose.

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.