fittings

The first and best-known plumbing risk of the winter months is frozen pipes. Water carries a unique property in that freezing causes expansion; as a result, any pipes that carry water that may freeze will be put under additional strain when trying to contain water. As the temperature drops certain pipes are at greater risk than others, so pay special attention to any outdoor pipes that are likely to be exposed to the extreme cold. This generally includes swimming pool supply lines, outdoor house bibs and lines connected to water sprinklers. However, we also encourage our customers to pay attention to any interior lines that are not in heated areas, such as those that run through basements, crawl spaces, garages, or attics. Lastly, check up on any pipes that run against exterior-facing walls that have little to no insulation from the cold.

To prevent pipe freezing, be sure to keep at-risk areas as warm as possible. Keep garage doors closed and kitchen and bathroom cabinets open; this allows warm air to circulate in these areas and prevent the water in them from freezing. It is also important to keep the heat at roughly 50 degrees F in your house at all times, whether you are there or not. This may incur a slightly higher heating bill, but will prevent much more costly repairs if your pipes were to freeze or burst. If you’ve had problems with frozen pipes before or feel that your house or business is at particular risk, be proactive in your approach.

John Guest, for example, takes a great amount of pride in its ability to keep its customers’ plumbing needs covered year-round. Now that winter is just around the corner, John Guest thought it would be useful to remind its customers of the plumbing risks associated with the upcoming drop in temperature.

If you do find yourself in that unfortunate circumstance, John Guest has committed time and effort to developing the products necessary to tackle this problem. John Guest Speedfit slip connectors provide plumbers with a quick, simple, and easy fix to the issue of burst pipes. Our slip connectors come in two sizes and can be used to fix pipe bursts on PEX, CPVC, and copper pipes.

John Guest slip connectors feature push-fit connections, allowing for rapid installation that should at least temporarily solve the leakage that comes with burst pipes. The push-fit fitting allows all of this to be accomplished without altering any additional pipe work. Like all John Guest products, our Speedfit slip connectors are made with the most sophisticated technology available, assuring our customers that they are receiving only the highest quality performances from John Guest products.

RWC is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of premium-branded engineered water delivery, control and optimization products and solutions for residential and commercial plumbing applications and is the premier manufacturer in the world of brass push-to-connect (“PTC”) plumbing fittings.

John Guest is a global leader in plastic push-fit fittings and pipe with products distributed worldwide. The company operates three purpose-built manufacturing facilities in the UK and has a well-established international sales and distribution network. Its product portfolio services three end markets: Plumbing & Heating, Water Quality & Fluid Dispense and Industrial PTC. Its portfolio of well recognized brands includes JG John Guestâ, Speedfitâ, JG ProLockTM, and POLAR CLEANâ.

The acquisition of John Guest is a strong strategic fit and aligns with RWC’s strategy to add complementary products which broaden the solutions offered to end users and expand its market presence, particularly in Europe. The combined business will provide an end-to-end solution with applications from meter to fixture and floor to ceiling from a single manufacturer. The combined product offering will serve to improve end user efficiency by reducing installation times, improve reliability and durability.

Heath Sharp, RWC Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are excited to bring these two great companies together. Our team is genuinely impressed with John Guest’s people and the culture within the organization. The company comes with a long history of innovation and industry leading execution. John Guest has created strong, well-respected brands that are highly regarded in their key markets globally. They bring innovative, clever products that we believe we can successfully leverage through our wellestablished international distribution network.

“We see alignment between our operations, products, and markets which will bring future growth opportunities for the combined group, particularly in the UK and continental Europe.