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Your pipes will not freeze just because you’ve turned your water heater off. Rather, pipes freeze when temperatures outside drop below freezing and the pipes are not properly insulated. In fact, leaving your faucets trickling with warm water (from the water heater) is one of the best ways to prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter.

Your water heater itself may have problems in the cold, so it’s important to winterize it each year. In addition, keep an eye on it throughout the year for problems and address any issues accordingly. For instance, here’s what to do if your water heater is leaking from the top.

Signs that your shower valve has gone bad include a variety of issues with water flow and temperature. Common symptoms are low water pressure, inconsistent water temperature, and dripping or leaking from the handle or showerhead when the water is off. You might also notice that the knob is difficult to turn or won't turn at all. Another key indicator of a bad diverter valve is water coming from both the tub spout and the showerhead simultaneously, or being unable to switch the water flow between the two fixtures. In advanced cases, the water may not turn on at all. These are all signs that the valve may need to be replaced.

Removing calcium and lime buildup will often fix a clogged faucet head. You can usually remove any buildup with distilled white vinegar or a combination of vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda. Sometimes, the problem is buildup on the aerator, in which case removing and cleaning that part should fix your water flow. However, the design of some aerators makes them difficult to clean. For those, replacing the aerator will get the faucet flowing well again.

In most cases, a dripping faucet will not stop on its own. Dripping usually occurs because of a failed cartridge or broken washers. Normal wear and tear eventually runs these parts down and causes the faucet to drip when you've already shut off your sink. Replacing the cartridge or washer should fix the problem.