Our Product & Material Safety Commitment
When you hire a plumber to repair a leak, fix a pipe, or install a product, do you ever wonder where they purchased their materials from?
If you are like most people, you probably never give it a thought. In fact, most of us would just assume whatever parts and materials their plumber is using are acceptable, safe, and long lasting.
But what happens if this plumber chooses materials based on a lower cost, instead of approved materials that are considered safer and longer lasting?
What happens if this plumber decides to install materials that are meant for non-potable (not meant for drinking) water systems instead of materials that are meant for potable (safe drinking water) systems?
Why would a plumber use materials meant for non-potable water systems? Sometimes, it’s because they don’t understand how to identify materials that are certified for drinking water systems. Other times, it’s due to cost. Materials with higher lead content are usually cheaper than materials with lower lead content.
Most people don't realize that when hiring a plumber, they are unknowingly allowing that plumber to install materials and products of their own choice.
Is that plumber buying materials that are in your best interest or their own?
Because our value to you is rooted in transparency, it’s part of our job to ensure you know where we source our materials from and how we select the materials we choose to supply your home.
Why We Care About Product & Material Safety
Although its use in plumbing has been significantly reduced, lead (naturally occurring heavy metal) is still present in many plumbing materials. Since lead is considered harmful to human health, it’s imperative that we choose products that have been tested and approved for drinking water use.
How Do We Choose Safely?
We select our plumbing materials from suppliers that carry materials from manufacturers that comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this federal law mandates that all plumbing products that come in contact with drinking water must not contain more than 0.25% lead on the wetted surfaces of the pipes, fittings, and fixtures.
We only choose products & materials that adhere to these guidelines and have certifications by independent organizations, such as the NSF International, IAPMO, and WQA.
Additionally, we look for certification bodies that have been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
We also avoid suppliers that import plumbing products from places that may have not adhered to strict lead standards.
Other Criteria We Look For
When providing fixtures, appliances, and plumbing equipment, we choose based on safety, reliability, warranty, and quality.
We look only to provide plumbing materials that have proven reliability. In the case that newer technologies emerge on the market, we disclose this information to you before deciding to use these newer, possibly untested products in your home.
And we only purchase from trusted wholesalers, retailers, and authorized dealers.
Places such as: Ferguson Plumbing Supply, Van Marcke Trade Supply, Hajoca Plumbing Supply, Farnsworth Wholesale, & Central AZ Supply.
These specialized suppliers carry many of the certified products & materials we trust for your home.
As you can see, sourcing materials for your home requires more than running to the store and "quickly grabbing something" off the shelf. We use a specific process to ensure we are providing you with the highest level of service that takes care of you and your home while keeping the property safe.
Additional Sources:
U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water”
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/use-lead-free-pipes-fittings-fixtures-solder-and-flux-drinking-water
Questions and Answers About the Final Lead Free Rule
https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/questions-and-answers-about-final-lead-free-rule
How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks
ANSI- American National Standards Institute