Homeowners' decision-making in a premise plumbing failure-prone area

摘要

Two formal preference elicitation methodologies-conjoint analysis and the analytical hierarchical process-were applied to examine the actions taken by homeowners living in a premise plumbing failure-prone area and their decision-making to minimize their risk attributable to corrosion and cost, as well as other issues related to home plumbing. Most households preferred to simply stay with their current plumbing materials rather than install an upgrade to reduce the risk of corrosion or purchase insurance against corrosion damage. Health, taste, and odor were dominant considerations for consumers. Interestingly, some respondents responded one way when stating preferences but behaved differently when making real-life choices. This information will be helpful for policy experts and utility companies seeking new ways to deal with premise plumbing issues.