ACE
DuraFlo Reveals Newer Southern California
Homes' Copper Plumbing Failing Sooner
Insurance Companies Canceling Policies
Insurance Companies Canceling Policies
SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 7, 2005 (PRIMEZONE)
-- Today ACE DuraFlo Pipe Restoration Inc.
reveals data showing homes built in the
1980's and 1990's in Southern California
are experiencing copper water piping failure
within 8 to 15 years, while the original
plumbing of homes built in the 1960's and
1970's is lasting 30 to 35 years. In addition,
homes built in 1989 have the highest rate
of plumbing failures, according to ACE
DuraFlo research.
The data supports recent discoveries by
Dr. Mark Edwards of Virginia Tech showing
changes in municipalities' water chemistry
to comply with the Environmental Protection
Agency Safe Water Act have accelerated
corrosion in copper pipes.
"These failures are astounding considering
that all the failing homes plumbing used
copper," Steven Wann, President of
ACE DuraFlo Pipe Restoration Inc., says. "The
EPA started enforcing the Safe Water Act
in 1991, and this caused most Southern
California cities to eliminate naturally
occurring organic matter which promoted
the copper coating process of cupric oxide.
This coating protected pipes from premature
failure and depositing dangerous levels
of copper and lead into the water," Wann
explains.
According to ACE DuraFlo records, since
the EPA changes were mandated failures
are occurring in all homes built or repiped
with copper plumbing in as little as two
years, with the average between 10 and
14 years.
"People once believed copper lasted
forever. It doesn't. It starts to corrode
the moment water enters our pipes and when
it corrodes quickly it can leave dangerous
levels of these heavy metals in our tap
water," Wann says.
"Just look at Camp Pendleton, from
September 23 to October 27 of this year
five percent of the 704 buildings and homes
tested had copper levels above 1300 parts
per billion," Wann says. "These
levels are dangerously high. If Camp Pendleton
is an indication of the rest of Southern
California, five percent of all Southern
California homes means a lot of people
are using tap water with dangerous levels
of copper daily."
Elliot Katzovitz owner of a West LA insurance
agency specializing in habitational policies
with frequency of loss issues has seen
an increase of cancellations of homeowners'
insurance policies because of water damage
from failed pipes.
"You can claim water leaks on your
insurance, but when a homeowner has as
little as one major water loss claim it
is very likely that a preferred insurance
company will cancel them," says Katzovitz.
Katzovitz affirms that insurance companies
can legally deny coverage and once a customer
is canceled by a preferred insurance company,
he will need to find an alternative carrier.
Then premiums go up as well as deductibles,
Katzovitz explains.
"Expect premiums to increase at least
four times the amount you were previously
paying with an inferior contract, and many
times water damage coverage is excluded
entirely," Katzovitz says.
"These failures could devastate home
values here in California," Brian
Koelling, Irvine real estate specialist,
explains. "Most insurance companies
have already begun raising premiums and
reducing or eliminating coverage for water
leak damage. I just wonder why the insurance
commissioner hasn't come to the defense
of the homeowner," Koelling says.
Koelling believes we'll soon see insurance
companies start mandating pipe restoration
from companies like ACE DuraFlo once a
property becomes 10 to 20 years old in
order to maintain any insurance, not just
water coverage. This gives a real urgency
for homeowners to deal with failing pipes
now and not wait until the options are
gone.
"With records showing your pipes
have been restored, an agent can gain exceptions
from company underwriters because the agent
can explain the homeowner has fixed the
source of potential future losses, so the
losses will not continue," Katzovitz
says.
About ACE DuraFlo Pipe Restoration Inc.
ACE DuraFlo Pipe Restoration Inc. began
restoring commercial pipes in Southern
California in April of 2001. The company
began residential pipe restoration in November
of 2001. Its patent pending, inner epoxy
lining called ePIPE(tm) serves as a pipe
within a pipe and has been successfully
used on thousands of homes, condominiums,
hospitals, schools, hotels and commercial
buildings to control pipe corrosion. It
is a permanent solution for pinhole leaks
and corrosion in copper water piping and
can prevent future leaks and property damage.
For more information call (800) 359-6369
or visit: www.RestoreMyPipes.com.
Contacts
LF |PR
8935 Research Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618
zaynabb@lucidfusion.com
949-502-7750 x.202
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