I've had to shut off the water to the house while dealing with a problem water heater. I am getting water coming from the hot water return line on the water heater. I get it to stop by 1) turning off the water at the main or 2) leaving on one of the downstairs hot water faucets. If I turn on one of the upstairs hot water faucets, nothing happens while water comes out of the downstairs hot water faucets. It doesn't happen if I turn off the water at the main on the street, but water still comes out of water heater hot water return line if I turn off the water at the gate valve on the front porch, but don't leave one of the downstairs hot water faucets on (with a corresponding heavy dribble of water.) So, my questions are: 1) Where is this water coming from? Why is water coming back into the water heater? I thought it should only be going out of the water heater on that line. 2) Why does it still happen when the gate valve is closed? Thanks.

Was recently replacing a rusted-on hose bib. The bib attaches to a pipe that comes out from stucco (and is likely connected to a joint that is between stucco and drywall). In the course of trying to turn the bib, I managed to turn the pipe it was on by a 1/8 to 1/4 turn. I turned the pipe back to its original position (and replaced the bib), but now I'm worried that, behind the stucco, the pipe is leaking because I've deformed the dope/tape that was sealing the threads. Am I being paranoid? Should I be worried about this? If so, is there a good way to determine if the plumbing in the wall is still OK?