To ensure you

select the system that's right for you, start by asking a few basic questions:

How will the system be installed? Even if you don't plan on tackling the

project yourself, it's valuable to understand how the pipe will be installed.

Copper requires

a torch to solder the pipe and fittings together. In recent years, solder

torches have been linked to numerous costly house fires. In fact, according

to the National Fire Protection Agency, the torches required to solder

metallic plumbing systems rank among the top-ten leading causes of house

fires each year. The risk of damage is even greater during remodeling

projects because a completed home is likely to have more highly flammable

materials near the work site than in new construction.

Today's more

modern plumbing materials don't require the use of torches. Rather, systems

like those made of specialty chemicals such as chlorinated polyvinyl chloride

employ a solvent cement joining system. The FlowGuard Gold CPVC plumbing

system, for instance, installs quickly and easily via a one-step joining

system that eliminates the risk of fire damage.

How long will

the system last? It's reasonable to expect your plumbing system to last

a long time. However, in recent years, there have been a growing number

of reports and newspaper articles documenting instances where highly corrosive

water and/or soil have caused metallic plumbing systems to fail repeatedly

only a few years after installation.

In some parts

of the country, such as Florida, the failures occurred so frequently that

the use of copper for plumbing has been completely banned in some areas.

In other regions, including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, task forces

have been formed to determine the exact causes of the growing number of

metallic plumbing failures.

While copper

pipe is experiencing increased scrutiny, CPVC plumbing systems have more

than 40 years of proven, reliable performance in the field and are uncompromised

will never pit or corrode, regardless of water quality. In addition, since

a CPVC system will never scale, the system maintains full water-carrying

capacity throughout its entire service life (unlike copper). This further

reduces the need for a costly repipe, which is estimated to be as high

as $6,000 for the average home.

What is the

system's effect on drinking water quality? Third-party testing and certification

labs, like NSF International, document that aggressive water may corrode

copper at a rate sufficient to contaminate water beyond state and federal

drinking water standards for copper exposure. Because CPVC systems will

never pit or corrode, water quality coming into your house will not be

compromised.

Are some systems

more energy efficient? Yes. Although difficult to quantify the exact savings,

CPVC has been proved to keep hot water hotter by naturally reducing heat

loss. Just grab hold of any installed hot water copper pipe and you'll

feel how much of the heat escapes from copper plumbing. CPVC pipe, on

the other hand, is cool to the touch, because it holds heat in. This special

ability helps reduce the incidence of condensation which is common on

copper pipes. Excessive condensation has been shown to cause drip damage

to walls and furnishings.

What about

noise? Unlike copper plumbing, FlowGuard Gold plumbing systems are quieter.

There are two different types of noise that can affect a plumbing system.

First, there is the banging noise associated with water hammer. This is

the noise you hear when your washing machine, dish washer or ice maker

shuts the water off quickly. The other type of noise affecting plumbing

pipe is the sound of the water moving through the pipe. FlowGuard Gold

plumbing systems virtually eliminate both types of noise. In fact, laboratory

tests confirm that FlowGuard Gold systems are actually four times quieter

than copper.

What's the

bottom line on costs? Surprisingly, despite all of its advantages, FlowGuard

Gold pipe and fittings are usually less expensive than copper primarily

because they are faster and easier to install, which reduces overall labor

costs.

What if there

is already copper plumbing in the home? Since most older homes on the

market still have copper plumbing, it is not always economically feasible

to replumb the entire home, unless ongoing pinhole leaks or scale buildup

mandate all new plumbing. But if you already have copper and are either

hoping to add a bathroom or laundry room, or you need to replace a section

of corroded copper pipe, keep in mind that CPVC transition fittings are

available to allow a fast, inexpensive transition from existing copper

pipe to CPVC pipe.

For more information

about today's plumbing options, call (888) 234-2436, Ext. 7393, or visit

www.flowguardgold.com.

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