Sunday, December 21, 2008

Copper - Still the Metal of Choice for Heating and Plumbing

By Tal Potishman

In the United Kingdom, copper is the metal of choice for experts and small business owners alike in the plumbing and heating industry. This metal has been used for more than ten thousand years and historians agree that it is highly likely that only iron and gold were used in construction before copper was first discovered. Natural copper is reddish in tone, though as it ages the hue of the metal switches from reddish to a definite green colour.

Professionals in the plumbing and heating industries have been using copper for their pipes and for a number of the electrical devices that help operate the heating and plumbing systems the professionals create. While copper has been used commonly for almost a century, copper miners have recently begun raising the price of the metal out of fear that the world's available copper supply will not meet the demand.

Copper is most commonly used for water pipes though United Kingdom manufacturing professionals have also begun to use it for the transportation of natural gas. This metal is the standard by which other industrial materials are judged and there isn't a single building code that doesn't allow the metal to be used. This is a durable and strong metal and scientists believe that it also has elements that stifle the growth of bacteria on its surfaces while simultaneously protecting humans and larger creatures from germs and other harmful substances.

In terms of applications in domestic plumbing, copper is one of the most versatile. Copper carries water and natural gas well while standing up to corrosion and deterioration. Many companies offer a fifty year warranty on copper piping because the business owners understand that copper is not likely to break down or become damaged.

In the UK, heating industry professionals have agreed that radiant heating systems are the best household heating systems that one can install in a house. Copper is the best material this underfloor heating. Copper pipes do not pose any risk of leakage or endangering the structural integrity of a home. UK homeowners have begun installing underfloor heating because it is the most efficient method of heating one's house and it is the most cost effective.

Copper has also been used in refrigeration units and air conditioners because, as easily as it distributes heat, it also effectively distributes cooler temperatures. Air conditioning manufacturers have started incorporating copper into their units with a resounding positive response. Copper has increased the lifetime of the machines as well as their effectiveness in "beating the heat."

Finally, copper has a reputation for being "green." The metal lasts for decades and easily recycled. Copper can also help people fight diseases while increasing their resistance to high cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. - 16003

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