Saturday, December 5, 2009

Copper - Plumbing and Heating

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.

Heating and plumbing professionals use copper for pipes and many of the different electrical devices inside their systems and have done so for nearly a century. In recent years, copper industry professionals have started charging higher prices for their copper pieces because there is a fear that the demand for copper is higher than the metal's available supply.

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 the United Kingdom's domestic plumbing industry, copper has been determined to be the most useful material. It does not deteriorate and it can resist corrosion all while carrying water as well as natural gas. Industry professionals have so much confidence in copper that clients who use it in their homes and offices are given a fifty year warranty on the devices that make use of the metal.

For heating systems, UK experts agree that radiant heating is one of the best systems that can be installed. Copper pipes have been used in underfloor heating for decades because the metal easily and evenly distributes heat and because copper pipes are unlikely to leak and cause damage to the structural integrity of the house. Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular in the UK because it is the most efficient and cost effective method of heating a home.

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.

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