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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Discover why FlowGuard Gold Pipe and Fittings is the most well-established non-metallic piping product in the market.

Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Homebuilders  |  residential plumbing

Critical Considerations for Plumbing Systems in Residential Construction

As builders and plumbers plan for new construction, the choice of plumbing materials deserves special attention. While homebuyers generally don’t understand the differences between the major plumbing systems in use today, those differences can affect a builder’s reputation, the plumbing contractor’s profitability, and the homeowner’s satisfaction. Here are the four most important considerations when selecting plumbing materials for new construction.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Sustainability  |  residential plumbing

The Real Reason Frozen Pipes Fail and How to Prevent It

Because water expands as it freezes, many people assume that the pressure of the ice pushing on the inner wall of a pipe is what causes pipes exposed to freezing temperatures to fail.

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CPVC vs. PEX: Making the Switch

CPVC vs. PEX: Making the Switch

Discover why you should make the switch to FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Sustainability  |  residential plumbing

How Plumbing Materials Are Affected by Changing Requirements

As water chemistries and homebuyer preferences change, plumbers may need to re-evaluate current practices and materials. Here are some of the changes to be aware of when selecting plumbing materials.

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Blog Feature

PEX  |  residential plumbing

Why PEX Fittings Leak and How to Identify the Cause

PEX plumbing systems use a different style of fitting than more established CPVC and copper systems. With copper and CPVC, the pipe is inserted into the fitting whereas with PEX the fitting is inserted into the pipe and the two pieces are mechanically joined using other components. This more complex design has created challenges since early in the material’s life when concerns over the health effects of the lead found in brass fittings caused manufacturers to replace lead with zinc in PEX fittings, resulting in widespread failures. Today, installation errors, chlorine degradation and chemical incompatibility are most likely to be the cause of leaking in or around PEX fittings.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Installation  |  residential plumbing

Green-Colored High-Contrast Cement Now Included in 2024 Plumbing Codes

In March of 2022, Lubrizol Advanced Materials announced FlowGuard High Contrast Solvent Cement for the FlowGuard Gold CPVC plumbing system.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Installation  |  residential plumbing

How UV Light Affects Plastic Plumbing Materials

Ultraviolet (UV) light can originate from sunlight or fluorescent light bulbs and is an aggressive oxidizer. In humans, UV light is responsible for sunburns; in plastics the effects of UV depend on the type of plastic. Plumbing systems can be exposed to UV light during the storage, transportation and installation of plumbing materials.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Installation  |  residential plumbing

Choosing the Right Size Pipe for Luxury Showers

A luxury shower with multiple body sprayers can add appeal and value to new homes. When specifying these types of showers, it is important to pay attention to the piping materials in order to control the performance and cost of the system.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  Installation  |  residential plumbing

Turning Fittings from a Weakness to a Strength

With some plumbing systems, fittings represent the weakest link in the system. PEX joints, for example, contain at least 3 separate parts joined together mechanically, including the pipe, fitting and an external crimp or expansion ring that joins the fitting to the pipe.

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CPVC  |  Contractors  |  PEX  |  Plumbing Systems  |  residential plumbing

What the Surprising Similarities Between Drinking Straws and Plumbing Fittings Mean for System Performance

Of all the ways to move fluid, the two that most people interact with most frequently are plumbing pipes and drinking straws. Surprisingly, there is a remarkable correlation between the diameter of common straw sizes and the internal diameter of the fittings used in PEX and FlowGuard Gold CPVC plumbing systems. By using drinking straws as a comparison, it becomes easy to see the significant differences between various plumbing fittings and why FlowGuard Gold CPVC outperforms PEX in flow and pressure.

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CPVC  |  Compatibility  |  Contractors  |  Copper  |  PEX  |  Plumbing Systems  |  Sustainability  |  residential plumbing

The Housing Slowdown Creates Opportunities to Lower Costs & Improve Quality

In a post published in early 2021, we identified three challenges plumbing contractors and home builders faced in dealing with a booming housing market. Now, as the boom becomes a slowdown, those challenges have become opportunities.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  PEX  |  Plastic Piping  |  Plumbing Systems  |  Pressure Ratings

How Changing Water Treatment Practices Impact Plumbing Design

Plumbing engineers are increasingly being asked by owners and developers of multi-family, multi-story buildings to use specific materials in their designs. Usually, those requests are motivated by financial interests, such as the costs savings that can be realized with plastic plumbing systems. Some plastic systems, such as CPVC, can deliver excellent reliability and performance, but not all plastics are the same.

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CPVC  |  Plumbing Systems

Repiping 101: Identifying the Signs a Repipe Is Needed

No one wants to hear their home needs a repipe. But sometimes that’s the best and only way to prevent future damage from systemic plumbing issues. The challenge for plumbers is determining whether issues are systemic or isolated, particularly for plumbing systems that are well within their expected service life. Some of the signs that a problem may be pervasive can be subtle, but there are guidelines plumbers can follow to determine when to recommend a repipe.

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CPVC  |  Sustainability

Engineering More Sustainable Plumbing Systems

Plumbing engineers are increasing their focus on sustainability due to both market demand and a personal commitment to support more sustainable homes and buildings. Improving plumbing system sustainability requires consideration of a range of factors, including material sustainability, use of designs that can minimize water waste, and the total environmental impact of a system.

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Do’s and Don’ts: Specifying Plastic Plumbing Systems in Residential Applications

Engineers pride themselves on developing specifications that ensure the quality and integrity of the plumbing systems that they design. However, sometimes information can get included in specifications that isn’t as accurate as it could be. Here are some do’s and don’ts to consider when developing specifications for residential plumbing using plastic plumbing systems.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  CPVC Solvent Cement

Introducing FlowGuard® High Contrast Green One-Step Solvent Cement

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC offers plumbers a versatile, reliable, and easy-to-install plastic alternative to copper. Compared to competitive plastic systems, it delivers enhanced chlorine resistance, higher water pressure, better water quality and lower costs. For more than 60 years, FlowGuard Gold CPVC technology has been successfully used in American plumbing systems. With this impressive track record, the FlowGuard Gold CPVC system has built a reputation as one that typically only has problems when a mistake is made during installation or service. Speaking with plumbers across the country who use FlowGuard Gold CPVC, the most problematic installation mistake is something called a dry-fit, which occurs when the installing contractor simply forgets to apply solvent cement to a connection before moving on. This issue has been rooted in the plumbing code, which, since the early 1990s, has required one-step CPVC cements to be yellow in color. This code requirement provides little contrast between the yellow cement and the FlowGuard Gold CPVC tan and gold pipe. That can make it harder to visually inspect work to ensure all fittings have been solvent welded, particularly when working in poorly lit spaces where the background is often similarly colored wood stud or subfloor. The FlowGuard Gold team listened to these concerns and worked with the model code organizations to update the codes to allow green colored, one-step solvent cement for use with CPVC. The high-contrast green cement makes it easier to visually inspect connections and minimize the risk of dry fits. Now, we are pleased to announce that these changes have been accepted for the 2024 code cycle. Here’s what plumbing contractors, builders and inspectors need to know about this code change:

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  IBS  |  PEX

Recapping the 2022 International Builders’ Show

It was great to be back at the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando this year. It’s difficult to know what to expect from a trade show these days, but the building industry turned out for IBS 2022 and the enthusiasm and passion of the builders that the show attracts makes this one of the most fun and energizing events of the year.

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Blog Feature

Don’t Flex Your PEX – How Bending PEX Pipe Can Lead to Premature Failure

The flexibility of PEX piping allows for sweeping bends that reduce the number of fittings required to install a PEX plumbing system. However, an analysis of a recent PEX failure indicates this convenience to plumbers may come at a steep price for homeowners—increased likelihood of premature failure.

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ReVISION House Selects FlowGuard Gold CPVC Based on Its Chlorine-Resistance, Flow Rates and Low Environmental Impact

When building science expert Steve Easley decided to retrofit a 3,050-square foot home in Scottsdale, AZ, his goal was to showcase how performance, sustainability, wellness, aesthetics, and durability could be optimized using the most advanced products, systems, and technologies available on the market today.

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Homebuilders

Quiz Reveals Builders’ Broad Knowledge of Risks and Limitations of Code, But Also Exposes Some Blind Spots

Following up on our successful Plumber’s Quiz, which exposed some critical misunderstandings around best practices for servicing plastic plumbing systems, the FlowGuard Gold team conducted a similar quiz for builders. The quiz was completed by more than 300 builders and, for the most part, participants demonstrated good knowledge of the extent of their liability and the risks or relying too heavily on building codes to ensure performance and homeowner satisfaction. But there were notable areas of concern where many participants were unfamiliar with potential material defects or manufacturer practices that could leave them vulnerable.

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CPVC  |  Service Plumbers

The Benefits of Using CPVC in Tight Spaces

As a service or re-pipe plumber, you know full well how tough it is to work in crawl spaces, around tight corners, or in other confined areas where it’s difficult to move. What you might not know is that that the type of pipe you choose for these jobs can have a tremendous impact on your efficiency, job quality, safety, and profits. For tight spaces, CPVC offers many benefits over both copper and PEX. Let’s take a look.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Multi-Family  |  pvc

Best Practices for Plumbing Multi-Family Projects

While there are many differences between single-family and multi-family construction, when it comes to plumbing, they have more in common than not. But the size of these buildings can amplify the cost and consequences of poor material choices and design decisions. The cost of poor decision—whether in the design or during installation—isn’t limited to just one home. It can be multiplied across every unit in the complex.

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Multi-Family  |  PEX  |  Sustainability  |  multiport

Enhancing the Performance of Mini-Manifold Plumbing Systems

Mini-manifold plumbing systems have become a popular approach to reducing water and energy waste in multi-family and hotel construction. These mini-manifold systems, also known as remote manifold and submanifold systems, enable shorter branch lines from the hot water main or recirculating line and can result in faster hot-water delivery as well as contribute to points in both the NGBS and LEED environmental performance rating systems.

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CPVC  |  Installation

Top 5 DIY Mistakes for Service Plumbers to Watch for with CPVC

Since 1959, more than 12 billion feet of FlowGuard Gold® CPVC pipe has been installed in the U.S. This product has proven to be extremely reliable, with many systems still in service after 40 or more years.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  CPVC Solvent Cement

COMMON MISTAKES WHEN USING SOLVENT CEMENT FOR CPVC SYSTEMS

As a plumbing service specialist, you’ve seen a lot of pipes fail for a lot of different reasons. With FlowGuard Gold® CPVC – which has a long history of proven reliability -- it’s likely the failure occurred because of an installation error. One of the most common mistakes that we’ve encountered is the improper application of solvent cement. Solvent cement is a vital component in the installation, as it acts as weld between the joint and the pipe. When improperly applied, it can leave the pipes vulnerable to weakness (if too much solvent is applied) or leakage (if not enough is applied).

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CPVC  |  pvc

Frequently Asked Questions About CPVC Fittings

The right fittings, properly installed, are critical to a properly functioning plumbing system. Here are answers to the most common questions about CPVC fittings.

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CPVC  |  pvc

CPVC or PVC: Make the Right Choice for Plumbing Repairs

If you’ve spent any time in the plumbing aisle at your local hardware store, you’ve probably heard someone ask, “what’s the difference between PVC and CPVC?” While the products have very similar names, they are not interchangeable and getting them mixed up can lead to major headaches on a DIY project. Before you get started, make sure you know the difference between these two materials that may be side-by-side in the plumbing aisle of your chosen store.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  SYSTEM DESIGN  |  residential plumbing

5 Ways to Design in More Hot Water Efficiency

It's common knowledge homes have become much more energy-efficient over the past several decades. What’s not so widely understood is most of the energy savings are limited to increased efficiency in regulating the temperature of the homes’ living spaces, thanks to vastly improved heating, cooling, and insulation systems. For instance, while roughly 60% of a home’s energy use went to heating and cooling forty years ago, today the average is around 48%. In contrast, over that same time period, the percentage of a home’s energy required to heat and handle water has remained relatively unchanged at around 18%, partly because homes are bigger and often feature more bathrooms, creating additional opportunities for energy loss in distribution.

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CPVC  |  Copper  |  multi-story

Plumber Finds Lasting Success with CPVC for Multi-Story Mains and Risers

J Geyer Plumbing is a family-owned business located in San Diego, California and specializing in a variety of multi-family and light commercial plumbing projects, such as condominiums and hotels. The company has standardized on FlowGuard Gold® and Corzan® CPVC for the mains and risers in multi-story projects.

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CPVC  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  Residential

Common Mistakes When Cost Estimating Plumbing Systems

A plumbing contractor’s profitability is most impacted by 3 factors: How much is charged for services The cost of materials used on a job Labor and overhead expenses

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Chemical Compatibility  |  PEX

The Risk of Chlorine Degradation from Chemical Incompatibility in PEX Piping Systems

We recently conducted a short quiz designed to gauge plumbers’ knowledge of plumbing material characteristics and the right tools to use with different materials. Among the results was the finding that 42% of plumbers mistakenly attributed a classic case of PEX chlorine failure to UV light.

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Blog Feature

Debunking the Myth of Freeze-Proof Pipes

Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on plumbing systems – especially in parts of the country that rarely receive extreme cold weather. In early 2021, we’ve seen major issues with frozen pipes throughout the state of Texas as a prolonged “polar vortex” brought more than a week of sub-freezing temperatures throughout the state.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  PEX  |  engineers

Eliminating the Risks of Piping Degradation from ORP in Residential Water Systems

After the widespread failures of polybutylene in the 1980s, ASTM F2023 was developed to evaluate the oxidative resistance of PEX piping in hot chlorinated water. Today, all PEX and many other polyolefin piping systems, including PPR, PP-RCT and PE-RT, are evaluated to ASTM F2023. But this standard is not without its limits.

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CPVC  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  Homebuilders  |  Residential

3 Plumbing Challenges in a Booming Housing Market

All signs indicate that the housing market will continue to surge in 2021. Unfortunately, with this rapid growth comes challenges, some of which we’ve experienced before. With careful planning, however, you can avoid many costly problems and take full advantage of an environment that should be ripe for building your business. To help ensure your success, consider the unique features of FlowGuard Gold® plumbing systems for maintaining your momentum and sidestepping three issues lurking on the horizon.

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CPVC  |  PEX

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN VALUE ENGINEERING YOUR PIPING SYSTEM

When value engineering a plumbing system, a product’s cost is just one of many factors that must be considered. Proper value engineering is a methodical effort that analyzes a system’s design, features, equipment, material selections and many other important variables with the goal of maintaining or enhancing the performance of a system for the lowest overall cost while maintaining code compliance. Unfortunately, while cost and code compliance is often considered in the value engineering process, the impact of material changes on system performance is rarely considered.

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CPVC  |  PEX  |  Specification

Specifying Plastic Plumbing: Beyond Material Selection

A successful plumbing system starts with a good specification. This means more than selecting a certain material and its representative ASTM standards – and taking that simplistic approach to specifications can result in significant risk. Each plumbing material has different characteristics and limitations that can impact its specification, installation and performance. Failing to account for these factors in the specification can lead to system underperformance and/or premature failures.

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CPVC  |  PEX  |  Service Plumbers

Test Your Service Plumbing Knowledge: Takeaways from Our Quiz

Did you know that more than than 60% of plumbers don’t know the correct tool to service CPVC? Early this year, we launched a short quiz to gauge plumbers’ knowledge of plumbing material characteristics and the right tools to use with different materials. More than 1,500 plumbers took the quiz, and the results were truly surprising. Before we review the results, if you’d like to take the quiz and see how you stack up before reading the answers, you can do so here.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Copper  |  PEX  |  remodeling

Replacing Copper with CPVC: A Service Plumber’s Perspective

When your job is selling plumbing materials, you don’t get a lot of opportunities for personal experience with the products you sell. But I recently had such an experience I wanted to share. Unfortunately, my experience starts with a failure in the copper fitting underneath my master bathroom sink. I was traveling and my wife noticed mold under the sink. When she investigated the source of the mold, she heard water running in the wall. That was a sign we had a real problem.

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CPVC  |  PEX

Re-Tooling Your Plumbing Business Without Investing in New Tools

Like almost all businesses, plumbers can benefit by occasionally re-evaluating established practices to identify opportunities to reduce costs and strengthen their competitive position. Plumbers using PEX may be surprised to learn that they could be leaving a lot money on the table with their material choice. Switching from PEX to FlowGuard Gold® CPVC can save time and money and can be accomplished without adding costs or major disruption to your business.

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CPVC  |  Installation  |  PEX

Understanding Risk Exposure Related to Plumbing Materials and Installation

Plumbers, like other contractors, face risk exposure as part of the job. But unlike some other trades, plumbers have to deal with water and water-related damage, which can amplify those risks. Most states require plumbers to carry insurance, but there are still numerous questions about when the risks should be borne by the plumbing contractor, the homeowner or the product manufacturer. No matter the insurance policy, there are a number of steps plumbers can take to reduce the risk of failures.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Installation  |  PEX

Frequently Asked Questions on the Performance of CPVC in Residential Plumbing

At FlowGuard Gold® CPVC we strive to provide complete and accurate information to plumbers and homeowners regarding use of CPVC in residential plumbing. To that end, we’ve compiled the answers to frequently asked questions in this post.

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Blog Feature

PEX  |  Service Plumbers  |  re-pipe

Plumbing Express Shares Insights on Re-Piping and Getting Five-Star Customer Reviews

Plumbing Express is a premier provider of re-piping and other plumbing services in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The company relies on FlowGuard Gold® pipe and fittings and consistently receives high customer ratings across a range of online sites. We spoke with general manager Ty Gailey and director of operations Blake Mowe to get their insights on building and maintaining a successful re-pipe service.

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CPVC  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Manufacturing In A Pandemic Is A Collaboration

There is no playbook for manufacturing in a 100-year pandemic, but in the midst of a crisis, game plans come together in a hurry. The FlowGuard Gold® pipe and fittings sales team is constantly adapting to continue to serve the market, with our supply chain team staying on top of our raw materials supply to ensure that we can continue to serve our customers. But all of this wouldn’t be possible without our people. The team producing Lubrizol CPVC compounds in Louisville, Kentucky, has found that when people pull together, rely on their value system in decision making, and know they can depend on each other, it is possible to rise to the most unforeseen challenges.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  PEX  |  re-piping

Re-Piping? CPVC Makes the Job Easier

Whole house re-piping is typically the largest job a service plumber will take on for a homeowner. For the homeowner, the project can breathe new life into an older home by resolving issues such as low water pressure and frequent leaks and repairs, but it also represents a major investment. Professional plumbers who can deliver this service cost-effectively and with high quality, provide real value for that investment and can build a solid reputation in their community.

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CPVC  |  Copper  |  PEX

Updating Aging Plumbing Systems

While there’s a perception that plumbing should last indefinitely, the reality is all plumbing materials age with time and will eventually have to be replaced. Copper pipe installed in the 1970s, for example, has now been in service for more than 50 years, which is near the end of its life expectancy in ideal conditions. While copper is a durable material, it can be subject to corrosion over time and is particularly susceptible to corrosion caused by the chemicals used today in water treatment.

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Blog Feature

PEX

The Impact of Plumbing Materials on Residential Flow Rates and Water Velocity

In a previous post we discussed the use of the term “or equal” in plumbing specifications and how that phrase is sometimes interpreted to equate PEX and CPVC even though significant differences exist between the two materials in the areas of durability, water quality and performance.

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CPVC  |  PEX

Plumbing Specifications: When “Or Equal” Isn’t Really Equal

Plumbing specifications often use “or equal” to give plumbers some flexibility in the materials they choose for a particular job. But this can create problems when the phrase is left open to interpretation and chosen materials don’t deliver the performance the specifier expects. The reality is that even among materials that are approved by code, there are differences in how the products perform. These differences may be superficial, such as how the systems are joined, but in some cases the differences can be meaningful enough to affect the performance of the installed system.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  PEX  |  re-piping

ARE YOUR PEX PIPES LEAKING? RE-PIPE WITH FLOWGUARD GOLD® CPVC

Few things are as frustrating for homeowners as persistent plumbing problems. Small leaks not only compromise the integrity of the pipes, they create water damage that can breed mold and lead to a total failure. Fix one problem and another pops up somewhere else.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  PEX

The Influence of UV Light on Plastic Plumbing Systems

We often get asked about the influence of ultraviolet (UV) light on plastic plumbing systems. The answer to this question, like many others, depends on the type of plastic being used. Different types of plastics have different chemical compositions and those differences affect how they react to UV light exposure.

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Blog Feature

Copper  |  Homebuilders  |  PEX

Home Building 2020: How Builders Can Take Advantage of the Changing Market

Housing starts and home prices have been rising steadily for a number of years; however, that may be changing. There are signs this growth may be plateauing, or even reversing, in some locations:

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Blog Feature

Aged Piping  |  CPVC  |  Repairs

Servicing Old CPVC: Use the Right Tools to Avoid Common Concerns

Since 1959, more than 11 billion feet of CPVC piping have been installed throughout the United States. As CPVC piping has become more popular in new construction, service plumbers have been encountering older CPVC systems more and more. Whether you’re remodeling a bathroom or replacing a hot water tank, dealing with aged CPVC piping is no problem, if you keep these three keys in mind.

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Blog Feature

Copper  |  Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Chemistry  |  Water Quality

When Water Treatment Chemistry Changes, How Will Residential Piping Respond?

It’s natural to think of water as an inert, harmless liquid. But for the water running through municipal distribution systems, great care is taken, and extensive treatment is required to ensure clean, safe drinking water. The source water, whether it comes from a lake, river, reservoir or aquifer, inherently contains contaminants in the form of both dissolved solids and bacteria that requires treatment.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Copper  |  Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  R&D

Why Paul Hasty and Sons Plumbing Chose FlowGuard Gold CPVC

Grove Harris is a vice president of Paul Hasty and Sons Plumbing, a residential and light commercial plumbing service in Brentwood, Tennessee. Grove has been in the business since 1992 and today manages a team of 30 plumbers. His company made the switch to FlowGuard Gold® CPVC in 2004 and continues to use FlowGuard Gold CPVC today. We spoke with him about why they made the change and what it has meant to his business.

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Blog Feature

CPVC  |  Innovation  |  R&D

Behind the Scenes of FlowGuard Gold® CPVC Development: An Interview with R&D Manager Chris Zook

Innovation is one of the key drivers behind the success of FlowGuard Gold® Piping Systems. We talked to Chris Zook, Applications Manager for the CPVC Research and Development group within Lubrizol Advanced Materials, to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the people and factors driving that innovation.

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Blog Feature

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Plastic Piping

Types of Plastic Piping: Choosing the Right Material

It can be easy to think that all types of plastic are the same, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth, especially when it comes to plastic plumbing systems. There are thousands of different types of plastics, each with their own physical and chemical properties. When it comes to hot- and cold-water plumbing distribution systems, there are five different plastics which have been used, each with their own properties.

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Blog Feature

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Quality

How Choosing the Right Piping Material Can Help Protect Your Homebuilder’s Brand

Risk of pipe failure and water quality issues are things that few builders can afford. Yet, many expose themselves to this vulnerability by delegating plumbing material selection to their plumbing contractors. It’s important to trust your contractors, but not at the expense of your business.

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CPVC  |  Homebuilders

What Class-Action Lawsuits Say About Residential Plumbing Material Quality

Class-action lawsuits are not uncommon in the residential plumbing industry; in fact, since 2001, there have been at least 22 class-action lawsuits involving plumbing pipes and fittings and at least 39 builders have been named as co-defendants in these class actions.

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Blog Feature

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Quality

How Plumbing Materials Can Influence Water Quality

The first post in our Healthy Home series reviewed the difference in the biofilm growth potential of PEX and CPVC piping while the second outlined the dangers that can occur if chemicals such as pesticides permeate PEX piping.

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Blog Feature

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Quality

Understanding the Risks of Chemical Permeation in Residential Water Systems

In the first post in our Healthy Home series, we reviewed the important issue of biofilm formation in residential piping and the difference in the biofilm growth potential of PEX and CPVC piping. For this post, we’ll examine another issue that can impact residential water quality: chemical permeation.

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Blog Feature

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Quality

Building Healthy Homes Requires Paying Attention to Water Quality

Residential home builders have made significant progress in improving the air quality issues that can arise in today’s tightly built, energy efficient homes. Turning to materials with lower air quality impacts and increasing mechanical ventilation in accordance with ASHRAE IAQ standards has allowed builders to achieve both the efficiency and indoor air quality today’s health and energy conscious consumers are seeking.

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Blog Feature

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  PEX

CPVC Can Handle the Pressure: A Comparison of CPVC vs. PEX

Domestic water plumbing systems are one of the highest liability systems in a home or building. Water damage from a failed plumbing can result in significant claims and in a domestic plumbing system, not only are you routing water throughout a building – those water pipes are held under constant pressure.

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Blog Feature

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  Sustainability

Why FlowGuard Gold® CPVC is the Sustainable Choice

For builders and developers interested in developing sustainable homes and buildings, both design considerations and material selection can be important contributing factors. Unfortunately, some in the industry have adopted short-cuts, such as red-lists, to evaluating materials that can have the unintended consequence of making a building more harmful to the environment.

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Blog Feature

Compatibility

Verifying Chemical Compatibility with FlowGuard Gold® Plumbing Systems

If you’ve already seen our previous post on chemical incompatibility, you know that all materials can be subject to damage from incompatible chemicals – even high quality materials like FlowGuard Gold® CPVC. That’s why it’s important to consider chemical compatibility – how the pipes may react to materials and chemicals that touch them – during the project’s design and installation phase to ensure the piping system performs as intended for the life of the system.

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Blog Feature

Compatibility

Chemical Compatibility and Plumbing Pipes: What You May Not Know

Not all piping materials are the same, but all piping materials can be vulnerable to adverse effects from incompatible materials. The specific chemistries involved in determining compatibility will vary based on what piping materials you use and what ancillary building products are used with them.

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Blog Feature

Product Comparison

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC vs. Generic CPVC

Homeowners and contractors demand reliable, high-quality piping systems that deliver safe, clean drinking water over the long term. FlowGuard Gold® CPVC pipe and fittings have a reputation for quality and 60 years of proven performance to exceed homeowner and contractor expectations.

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Blog Feature

PEX

Plastics Pipe Institute Updates Technical Note on Use of PEX in Chlorinated Water

Potable water piping systems have a primary goal: to deliver safe and clean water to drink. Plumbing system materials, therefore, must meet specific performance criteria to ensure they are suitable for use in a potable water supply. Piping materials are tested for their temperature and pressure-bearing capabilities, and in the case of polyolefin materials such as PEX, they are tested to determine their time to failure when exposed to chlorine.

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Installation

Earliest FlowGuard Gold® CPVC Installations Withstand the Test of Time

Beginning in 1957, the NAHB Reseach Institute launched its Research House program to develop new ideas, and performance specifications for new materials and equipment to improve the quality and/or reduce the cost of American home construction.

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Blog Feature

Compatibility

How Chlorine Degradation Impacts New Home Performance

Plumbing system failures can be problematic and costly for a homeowner, builder or plumber. Unfortunately, many plumbing systems use components made from polyolefin materials which are known to degrade and fail when exposed to the chlorine-based disinfectants commonly found in municipal drinking water, especially at elevated temperatures and pressures.

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Blog Feature

Case Studies

Creative Living for Life and Medina Creative Housing

The affiliated non-profit organizations Creative Living for Life and Medina Creative Housing actively create opportunities that promote the development and ongoing management of permanent, fully accessible, affordable housing and quality support services for persons with physical, intellectual and/ or developmental disabilities. Initially focused on individuals with disabilities in Medina County Ohio, these organizations are expanding their efforts to construct, own and manage personal, private apartment communities across northeast Ohio due to the growing, overwhelming demand of such housing for individuals with disabilities. Such individuals can realize true community integration with appropriate levels of support for health, safety and security.

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Compatibility  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Lubrizol CPVC Pipe Withstands the Harshest Conditions

Homebuilders and plumbers alike need to have confidence in the plumbing systems they specify and install in new homes. Where that confidence comes from, though, is critically important. With Lubrizol CPVC, that confidence is possible based on a 60-year proven track record – not only in hot and cold water distribution, but also in some of the harshest operating conditions possible.

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Product Comparison

The Role of Piping Systems in Fire Risk

Fire risk is an important factor when designing piping systems for homes. That’s why piping systems should always be part of the discussion when considering combustion safety, as different types of pipes respond to fire in different ways.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  Plumbing

The Fine Print: How Water Voids Many Plumbing Warranties

When a plumbing system fails, homeowners – and often builders and contractors – are left seeing dollar signs and wondering who is responsible for repair costs.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

3 Ways to Maximize the Entry-Level-Buyer Opportunity

In a world of low-cost and quick-turn home building, home builders increasingly rely on retaining existing customers and building brand loyalty. While many builders opt for larger houses with wider margins, however, a strategy for building smaller homes that meet the demand of the market could be more profitable.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Employee Spotlight: Marty Musgrave

Education is a significant aspect of Marty Musgrave’s day-to-day duties — and with more than 40 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s well-suited for the job.

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Homebuilders

How Builders Can Profit from Entry-Level Homes

In a world of low-cost and quick-turn home building, home builders increasingly rely on retaining existing customers and building brand loyalty. While many builders opt for larger houses with wider margins, however, a strategy for building smaller homes that meet the demand of the market could be more profitable.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Employee Spotlight: Rich Tabeling

Rich Tabeling has proudly served the Lubrizol community as territory manager, CPVC piping systems for two-and-a-half years, but he’s no newcomer to the plumbing, piping and fittings industry. His two decades of experience include roles of district, regional and national sales manager for a company that sells water distribution products such as hydrants, valves, fire protection accessories and tools. That knowledge serves him well at Lubrizol handling FlowGuard Gold® Plumbing Systems, Corzan® Piping Systems and Blazemaster® Fire Protection Systems.

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Case Studies

Top 100 Home Builder Knows FlowGuard Gold® CPVC Ensures Consistent Performance

With success as a semi-custom home builder, Homes by WestBay expanded into the luxury home business with rapid growth. The Tampa Bay area builder has grown so much since its start in 2009 that they now rank as 2018's 100th largest homebuilder in the U.S. When starting out, the company built only nine homes – in 2018, they expect to build more than 540 homes.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Employee Spotlight: Paul Winstead

Over the past five years, Paul Winstead, southeast territory manager, has used his passion and thirty years of experience to make products using Lubrizol’s CPVC the best in the piping industry.

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Contractors  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC  |  Plumbing

How to Make the Switch to FlowGuard Gold Plumbing Systems: A Guide for Plumbers

Starting in 2005, a rise in material costs and changes in labor availability caused plumbers to make the switch from copper to plastic pipes. With a reliable history, FlowGuard Gold CPVC was there to meet the increased demand.

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Contractors  |  Water Quality

California Builders: Do Your Plumbing Systems Meet State Drinking Water Standards?

Research conducted by NSF International indicates that one-third of PEX plumbing piping samples tested per the NSF 61 drinking water standard exceed California drinking water standards for methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE).

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Case Studies  |  Homebuilders

Single-Family Homebuilder Upholds Reputation for Reliability with FlowGuard Gold CPVC

Since its start in 1963, Cristo Homes, a third-generation business, has grown its footprint to build 80-100 homes per year. Building exclusively in southwest Ohio between Cincinnati and Dayton, their homes accommodate families of all backgrounds. With single-family homes ranging in price from $180,000 to $500,000, Cristo serves homebuyers who are looking for modest-sized homes as well as those who seek more luxurious spaces.

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Case Studies  |  Homebuilders

IBS Prize Winner Essex Homes

What would you do with $15,000 worth of free material and labor for the installation of FlowGuard Gold pipes and fittings? For Vinnie Nanula, Manager of Operations for Essex Homes in Western New York, this opportunity became a reality.

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Case Studies

Growing Plumbing Business Depends on FlowGuard Gold for Competitive Advantage During Expansion

Since their founding in 2000, the Powerhouse Plumbing team has worked on thousands of single family homes and condos across New England. Powerhouse’s growth shows no signs of slowing down, as they foresee expansion to 500 units per year on the horizon.

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Installation

4 Keys to Success When Installing FlowGuard Gold CPVC

No plumbing system is perfect, but a key advantage when using FlowGuard Gold CPVC is that it is the only system that allows you to take control of your plumbing system risk. While other materials like PEX and copper can fail due to factors outside of your control – such as aggressive water conditions and chlorine-based disinfection – the risk factors for FlowGuard Gold CPVC are entirely controllable.

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Case Studies

Bay Area Plumbing Experts Find Valuable Partner in FlowGuard Gold

For W.L. Hickey Sons Inc., a job well done means their clients don’t see their work after it’s done.

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Installation

Top 10 FlowGuard Gold Installation Dos and Don'ts

With FlowGuard Gold CPVC, it’s easy to install piping systems that last. Use these 10 CPVC installation dos and don’ts to make sure that every installation is done right, preventing costly leaks and damage in the future.

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Installation

How to Install FlowGuard Gold CPVC

FlowGuard Gold CPVC’s one-step solvent welding process makes it easy to assemble a plumbing system. Solvent welding creates a permanent molecular bond between the pipe and the fitting, so that they function as a single unit.

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Installation

Understanding Expansion & Contraction in FlowGuard Gold CPVC

When installing a new piping system, it’s important to remember that changes in temperature will cause any material to expand or contract. This means at warmer temperatures, the pipe will increase in length, while at relatively cooler temperatures, the pipe will get shorter.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

FlowGuard Gold® Pipe & Fittings Are Acceptable for Use in Plenums

The following manufacturers of FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe and fittings are listed and labeled per ICC Evaluation Service Report PMG-1264 and as required by the International Mechanical Code and Uniform Mechanical Code:

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PEX  |  Product Comparison

It's Time to Make the Switch: Speed and Cost Benefits of Switching from PEX to FlowGuard Gold CPVC

Time is money and as the construction industry continues to get busier around the country, plumbers need to find ways to save both. Unfortunately, in recent years many contractors have been duped by deceptive advertising claims stating that PEX is faster and cheaper than CPVC. While the PEX manufacturers have benefitted from this false perception, plumbers across the country have left thousands of dollars on the table.

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Installation

Guest Post From Weld-On/IPS: Best Practices for Cold-Weather Pipe Installation

Freezing temperatures are rarely easy on any construction project, but sometimes the job must be done, regardless of the cold weather.

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Case Studies

Major Plumbing Contractor Trusts FlowGuard Gold CPVC in Thousands of New Homes

There are few residential construction markets that have been more active in recent years than the Washington, DC metropolitan area. For plumbing contractors in busy markets like this, it is critical to be able to provide fast, cost-effective installations using the highest quality products available.

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Compatibility  |  FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Built to Last: FlowGuard Gold CPVC Resists Chlorine Degradation

All plumbing system materials are required to meet certain performance criteria to ensure that the materials are suitable for use in a potable water supply. These requirements include performance such as temperature and pressure bearing capability and, for some materials, a time to failure measurement when exposed to chlorine.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

FlowGuard Gold & Corzan CPVC Now Approved by City of Chicago

On October 11, 2017, the City of Chicago announced a breakthrough 6-month pilot program to allow for the first time the use of FlowGuard Gold and Corzan CPVC plumbing systems within the city.

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Installation

Tech Talk: Effects of Heat and Humidity on Solvent Cement

Lubrizol CPVC met with Amrit Parhar, Principal Chemist at Oatey® to understand climate conditions and how it affects the use of solvent cement. Heat and humidity are two conditions that plumbers and contractors must be mindful of while working with solvent cement.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Know How Plumbing Materials Can Impact the Environment

When considering the systems that contribute to a “high performance” home, environmental performance and energy efficiency might come to mind. This can lead builders to focus on building systems most commonly associated with energy and the environment, such as insulation, appliances and HVAC, however plumbing systems can influence several critical components of home performance that are important to today’s home buyer. These impacts not only include environmental performance, but can extend further to cover water quality and human health issues.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

LEED Credit Basics for FlowGuard Gold Projects

No one wants to build a wasteful, polluting building. Certainly, you don’t. As a builder, you take pride in choosing materials and methods that make the building the best it can be. In some cases, you might be building facilities that gain LEED certification. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a third-party verification service for sustainable buildings.

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PEX

Don't Let PEX Shortages Put You Out of Business

For the second time in two years, plumbers across the United States have been struck with a shortage of PEX plumbing system components – leaving contractors on back order or searching for alternate materials.

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Case Studies

CPVC Offers Luxury Home Builder a Dependable Solution for Residential Plumbing

As a premier builder of custom, luxury residential homes in the Milwaukee area, Kings Way Homes seeks out the best building products and solutions offered to ensure a quality, customized home its customers will cherish for years to come.

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Plumbing

Plumbing Pipes: From Lead to PEX and Beyond

Water is essential to life and so it’s no surprise that the history of water distribution is closely tied to the history of human development. In the modern world, the development of indoor plumbing had a significant impact on how we live our lives, and the materials used in those plumbing systems are an important part of that story that we often overlook.

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Water Quality

High Levels of Copper in California Condos Sheds Light on Common Water Quality Issue

Recently, dangerously high levels of copper were found in several luxury condos built within the last decade, prompting city officials to take action and caution residents against drinking and cooking with tap water.

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Homebuilders  |  Plumbing

Frozen Pipes: What You Need to Know

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Case Studies

AFTER PEX PIPE LEAKS, WASHINGTON FAMILY FINDS PEACE OF MIND WITH CPVC

In the summer of 2016, the Jackson family reached its wit’s end: Their home in Battle Ground, Wash., a little over 10 years old, experienced a third pipe leak in just a couple of years.

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Installation

Ensure the Integrity of Your Piping System Installation

Use a Complete FlowGuard Gold System Builders and contractors across America trust FlowGuard Gold to reliably deliver clean, safe drinking water. But on a recent tour of jobsites in Central Florida, we discovered that several installers were installing their FlowGuard Gold piping using non-FlowGuard Gold fittings.

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Case Studies

CPVC Contributes to a True “Quiet House" in the Boston Area

Mark O’Connor of Wellesley, Massachusetts was determined to differentiate himself in the market with new construction and remodeling work that met only the highest quality standards. That meant his homes had to be quiet. Starting with flooring, barrier insulation, doors, ventilation system and other standard tactics, O’Connor differentiated himself by developing quality quiet houses. In Dover Delaware, he set out to raise the bar with a $1.7 million project. That meant a hunt to reduce noise in less common areas of the home, including the plumbing system.

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Case Studies

NVHomes Upgrading to a Cost-Effective Plumbing System

The starter home market in Washington D.C., is highly competitive. NVHomes is in competition with many other regional builders going after the middle-income market of young-professional, first-time homebuyers. NVHomes wanted to find a more cost-effective plumbing system than copper to help stand out in the market. They saw an opportunity to switch out their copper plumbing systems with more efficient, faster-to-install plastic systems

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Compatibility

FBC Compatible Mobile App

While FlowGuard Gold® CPVC is immune to corrosion, pitting and scaling, installers need to be sure they are using ancillary construction products that are compatible with FlowGuard Gold CPVC. To ease the burden associated with researching and selecting accompanying construction products, Lubrizol developed the FBC™ System Compatible Program.

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Installation

Tech Talk: Solvent Welding Best Practices with CPVC

The joining process utilized for all FlowGuard Gold® piping systems requires the proper techniques to ensure a durable and long-lasting system. Utilizing FlowGuard Gold® Pipe & Fittings brings durability and cost-effectiveness to any plumbing job, and a big part of these benefits is the solvent welding process used to join the pipes and fittings. Solvent welding offers a fast, simple and flexible installation process, but certain considerations need to be taken into account to ensure a proper, effective installation.

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Plumbing

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC, An Ideal Product for Plumbing Contractors

Alpine Plumbing has worked with FlowGuard Gold® Pipe & Fittings for over a decade, and has experienced efficiencies, cost savings and satisfied contractors and homeowners with the product.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Employee Spotlight: Ryan Chubon

Serving dual roles as territory manager and account manager, Ryan Chubon has helped Lubrizol CPVC achieve some big wins and has his eyes on the future. Over the eight years he’s worked for Lubrizol CPVC, Ryan Chubon has seen his role evolve in a way that has been congruent with his goals of growing the CPVC business—and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

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FlowGuard Gold® CPVC

Lubrizol CPVC Wins ASPE Industry Award

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers recently recognized The Lubrizol Corporation for Outstanding Service to the Advancement of Plumbing Engineering Technology.

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Case Studies

Project Profile: Kings Way Homes

Kings Way Homes doesn’t take shortcuts. As a premier builder of custom, luxury residential homes in the Milwaukee area, Kings Way seeks out the best building products and solutions offered to ensure a quality, customized home its customers will cherish for years to come. “The homes we’re building are often our customers’ dream homes,” says Christopher Moll, chief operating officer, Kings Way Homes. “When you’re building these homes, you’re promoting a lot of your building materials to the homeowner. They’ve done their research. They’re spending a lot of time and money, so they want all the details, and they want it to be just right.”

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