There Are Quieter Alternatives
Than Copper
(ARA) - With all the environmental noise in our
high-tech society, it’s little wonder that peace and quiet have become
highly prized luxuries. Noise ordinances are regularly sought and passed
to control everything from the volume of recreational watercraft to
the backfire of car engines. In most neighborhoods, residents are restricted
from making noise or playing stereos loudly before 8 a.m. or after 10
p.m. as a courtesy to other neighbors. There is even a Noise Pollution
Clearinghouse that exists on the Internet to help reduce noise pollution
and create an awareness of its various sources.
But noise isn’t restricted to the great outdoors.
Inside, there are equally as many sources of noise disturbance, including
squeaky floors or doors, rattling windows, a dripping faucet or a toilet
that continues to run. Manufacturers have invested heavily into technologies
that make today’s dishwashers, washing machines and even refrigerators
much quieter. Homeowners routinely pay extra for additional soundproofing
procedures and insulation between living spaces.
With all the noise to deal with, it’s easy to
overlook one primary source -- the home’s plumbing system. Plumbing
pipe can be the source of two types of noise -- the sound of water flowing
through the pipes and what is commonly referred to as water hammer,
the banging or knocking sound that’s heard within copper piping systems
due to pressure surges that occur, for example, when a shower is turned
off suddenly or when a washing machine changes cycles. A shock wave
results as the fluid inside the pipe decelerates sharply, causing the
pressure to rise and the fluid to compress.
Unfortunately for homeowners, traditional copper
pipe is rigid and, therefore, not capable of expanding. Compounding
the problem, copper has very poor insulating properties; consequently,
any noise in the system is transmitted throughout the home. An alternative
material, CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), is not only less rigid
than copper, it also has superior insulating properties.
In an effort to determine how much noise results
and is transmitted in metallic pipe and how much noise could be reduced
with the installation of a CPVC piping system that offers superior insulating
qualities, NSF International, a well recognized, independent testing
lab, conducted testing designed to compare noise levels between FlowGuard
Gold CPVC pipe and copper pipe.
These tests documented the noise level (average
of three tests) for the FlowGuard Gold 3/4 inch pipe at 35.9 dBA versus
55.4 for the 3/4 inch Type M Rigid copper pipe. To put the 19.5 dBA
sound level difference between the two pipes in perspective, it was
concluded by NSF that the copper pipe was four times louder (as the
human ear interprets sound level) than the FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe.
To compare the difference another way, consider
that the human whisper at 25 dBA approximates the noise level of water
running through a FlowGuard Gold pipe, versus a washing machine at 65
dBA, which is closer to the level of noise of water flowing through
a copper pipe.
Other common noise levels register as follows:
* Rustle of leaves - less than 20 decibels
* Normal human conversation - between 60 and
70 decibels
* Busy street traffic - between 70 and 80 decibels
* Locomotive - approximately 90 decibels
* Jack hammer - approximately 100 decibels
* Rocket ship - between 110 and 120 decibels
In addition to its quieter operation, FlowGuard
Gold CPVC pipe has been gaining in popularity and is being installed
in more homes for other reasons, as well. The foremost reason is reliability.
Unlike copper which is subject to corrosion and pinhole leaks that can
lead to premature failure, CPVC pipe will never pit or corrode. This
also means it will never leach harmful metals into the home’s drinking
water. In addition, it will never scale like copper, which allows it
to retain full water-carrying capacity. And, it’s easier and safer to
install because it utilizes an innovative, one-step solvent cement bond
which does not require a torch for soldering.
To learn more how the selection of the right
plumbing product can minimize noise in your home, as well as the many
other benefits of CPVC plumbing, visit www.flowguardgold.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
