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CPVC Piping System Resources

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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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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Blog Feature

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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Blog Feature

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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