Q. I really appreciate you keeping us up-to-date on the latest bathroom trends, and I enjoyed your recent column on bathtubs that massage with air bubbles instead of water jets. When I told a friend about your article, he told me that some toilets are now air-powered as well. Is there really an air revolution going on in the bathroom? Please tell me about these air toilets and any other air fixtures. – Jim, Rhode Island

A. These fabled toilets aren’t just a lot of hot air. Air-powered plumbing fixtures are becoming very popular in new bathrooms. Along with the “bubble tubs” that came out a couple years ago, air technology is also being used in toilets and showerheads.

The air-assisted toilets have actually been around longer than the air bathtubs. These are toilets that trap air in a special enclosed chamber in the toilet tank. When the chamber is full of water, a pocket of trapped air is acted upon by the water pressure in the plumbing system. When the toilet is flushed, gravity pulls the water into the bowl and the pocket of compressed air pushes the water, for one of the most powerful flushes you can get in residential toilets. In the past they were a bit noisy, and many homeowners stayed away from them. But new technology in what’s called “pressure-lite”-type flush systems has reduced the noise level, and air-assisted toilets are becoming popular in many homes.

Air-induction shower heads are the new kids on the block. Shower heads with the new air-induction technology deliver a spray that that feels bigger and delivers maximum performance. The shower head infuses water with air to create a powerful spray that will rinse your hair and clean you skin with ease. About 2 liters of air per minute are mixed in with the flow of water to maximize every water drop.

It kind of works like the aerators found on quality kitchen faucets, except on a much larger scale. The final result is a shower head with a powerful air/water mix and a nice, even flow.

Bottom line: Air-assisted plumbing fixtures are here to stay, and in the future may blow away the competition.

Q. I just read your column on winterizing a summer cabin, in which you stated that the best way to clear the water lines is with an air compressor. I have a cabin that I drain down every winter by opening a few valves and letting gravity do the work. I never had frozen pipes, and using a compressor seems like a lot of work. Why make the job into a bigger project? – Fred, California

A. I’m sticking to my guns on this as a master plumber who has seen many frozen plumbing systems that supposedly were properly “gravity-drained.” I’m not telling you how to winterize your cabin; that’s up to you.

But remember that climate has a lot to do with pockets of water freezing up or not. Mild winters are more forgiving to a gravity-drained plumbing system. I still say, from what I’ve seen, that most plumbing professionals I know of always use compressed air to clear water lines for the winter.

Draining by gravity in the fall may work in some cases, but it may also drain your wallet in the spring with costly plumbing repairs. Why take the chance?