but the extra expense is nothing compared with a hefty repair bill. Here’s what to do: If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you may well have a frozen pipe. “If you suspect ...

For example, replacing the valve on a leaky faucet is a routine repair, whereas upgrading the plumbing for the entire building from galvanized lead pipe to copper pipe is a capital expenditure.

To find out how water-efficient new bathroom products are, look out for the Unified Water Label. This tells you products' water use. Make sure you fix any leaks, including dripping taps, shower heads ...