Building a New Home?

Don’t Take Plumbing for Granted; Today There Are Alternatives to Metallic Systems

Building a new home is all about having choices and making decisions. So if you’re planning to build a new home, be prepared to spend an endless number of hours looking at options and making final selections.

When it comes to cabinets, faucets, light fixtures and floor coverings, everyone expects a lot of choices – different styles, colors, finishes, price ranges, etc. Even windows come in different shapes, sizes and energy efficiencies.

Yet, when it comes to something as important as the home’s plumbing, most people don’t ask any questions. They assume they don’t have a choice. For many generations, metal (in the form of galvanized steel or copper) was the only material available. Look in the basement of any home built before the Kennedy era, and it’s unlikely you’ll see anything but metallic pipes.

Today is a different story as a host of alternative materials – many of which are plastic – now garner attractive market shares.

Why has plastic come on so strong? Because metal has demonstrated a number of pitfalls through the years that have been documented by numerous studies, testimonies and lawsuits. Pinhole leaks and premature system failures, caused by metal’s natural tendency to pit, corrode and scale, have opened the door to more reliable, virtually maintenance-free systems.

Of these, CPVC (post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) plumbing systems, which have 50 years of proven field experience, are the most popular. CPVC pipe and fittings, such as those used in FlowGuard Gold® CPVC plumbing systems, offer a number of benefits over metallic systems. Primarily, they will never pit, scale or corrode, which eliminates the risk of premature failures and costly re-piping, in addition to possible property damage.

FlowGuard Gold CPVC systems are also highly energy efficient with natural insulating properties that keep hot water hotter and cold water colder than metallic systems. In addition, condensation, which is a common problem with metallic pipes that can cause drip damages to walls and foundation, is virtually eliminated.

As water quality becomes a more high-profile concern in this country, CPVC piping gains additional marks for its ability to maintain water quality. There is no leaching or metal contamination into the water supply, so there are no related health concerns. And without pitting or corrosion, CPVC systems are able to maintain full water carrying capacity throughout their entire life. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to look inside a piece of old copper pipe, you’ve probably seen a thick layer of hard minerals that have formed. These minerals can dramatically reduce the diameter of the pipe, which reduces water flow and water pressure, and can inhibit the efficiency of many water-using appliances. Eventually, homeowners afflicted with corroded pipes will be forced to completely repipe their home at an average cost of $6,000 per repipe.

Through the years, many homeowners have come to accept water hammer (or banging pipes) in their home, which is typical of traditional metallic systems. CPVC systems, on the other hand, resist water hammer. In addition, they minimize water flow noise, which has been proven by outside testing laboratories to be four times louder in copper pipes.

Although CPVC systems are most often used in new construction, they are also compatible with other plumbing systems for use in home remodeling projects, the addition of a guest bathroom, or the replacement of a failed copper system.