When a home containing poly piping is placed on the market, buyers will often discount the price (due to the material defect) – even if the poly has not yet shown any leaks – because it is known that poly piping will leak eventually. If a seller is aware, it is wise to replace any poly piping before putting a house on the market.

There are currently no laws specifically regarding the disclosure of poly piping on a property, but some property brokers have been sued for not disclosing the presence of polybutylene piping in buildings they sell. Real Estate brokers selling homes containing poly piping should be prepared to be held liable if buyers have a non-disclosure complaint. At the very least, both sellers buyers should be provided with some sort of information regarding poly piping and its dangers, and sellers should be given the opportunity to replace their piping before putting their home on the market.

Plastic fittings are the only problem:

Fiction. The systems with metal fittings fail as well. However, it is true that systems with plastic fittings have more failures, experience tells us that all Polybutylene Piping Systems, whether they have metal fittings or are manifold-type systems will fail. Both metal fitting systems and manifold systems contain polybutylene piping and can have plastic valves, both of these are subject to failure.

Replacing your polybutylene pipes is expensive:

Expensive is a term that only you can define. The actual cost of   repipe (including drywall and paint), is usually much less than installing vinyl windows or basement waterproofing, providing you use a contractor that is familiar with repiping and is able to do the complete job including the drywall repairs and repainting. They have the personnel to give you a quality job, and they will do it more efficiently, with less damage, inconvenience, and most importantly, for less cost.

Polybutylene problems occur because of poor installation:

Fiction. Although installation quality may be a factor in poly leaks, in most cases installation is not the primary cause. Factors contributing to the leaks include degeneration of piping and fittings, water quality, chlorine levels, and age. Over time, some or all of these factors will contribute to the systems failure.

I inspected my own pipes and they look fine:

Fiction. The problem is that most failures occur in pipes that look fine even to a plumbing professional, so unless you have x-ray vision, a visual inspection is almost pointless.

The polybutylene in my house has lasted for more than ten years, so it’s fine:

Fiction. Depending on the water quality in your home, it can take years for polybutylene piping to fail. It may leak within a few years of installation, but the majority of leaks start to occur in the 10-15 year time frame.

You can easily sell your home with poly:

Most real estate agents tell us that homes with poly have sold for less and may take longer to sell. A home inspector may flag the problem, and the homeowner has the pipes replaced before the house gets marketed. The seller and the buyer may come to an agreement to have the pipes replaced or negotiate the price.   We have no informatin on how many prospective buyers will simply ignore homes with polybutylene pipes because they recognize it as a potential problem from the start.

My insurance covers the damages if the pipes leak:

Fact. Water damage from leaking pipes is typically covered by most homeowners policies. But the your insurance company may decide to increase your premium after a claim, or they may decide not renew your policy.

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Problems With Polybutylene

Although some poly piping problems stem from improper installation, most complaints are with the integrity of the piping itself. Polybutylene pipe is known to deteriorate due to contact with oxidants normally found in public water supplies. The failure can occur in the plastic fittings or in the pipe itself. A main concern regarding poly pipe is that, since the oxidants are carried in the water, the pipe deteriorates from the inside. This makes it very difficult to determine if the pipe is truly in good condition. Most home inspectors cannot give a reliable assessment on the condition of poly piping unless there is a visible problem with the exterior of the pipe or its installation. In addition, when a leak occurs, it may be extremely severe because the deterioration occurs from within.

Poly pipe leaks are unpredictable and there are no symptoms to warn of an impending leak. Some factors that affect polybutylene piping adversely can include:

• Poor installation
• Water quality
• Pipe age
• Chlorine levels
• Deterioration of fittings (both metal and plastic)

When polybutylene pipe reacts with the oxidants in normal tapwater, it becomes brittle, sometimes scaling or flaking. This results in a fracturing of the interior surface of the pipe, which allows for more deterioration. Eventually the pipe will begin to leak, causing damage throughout a home. Poly pipe with plastic fittings or with metal fittings will eventually incur damage; poly piping is not a reliable piping under any circumstances. If a pipe has been leaking for some time without the knowledge of a homeowner, severe structural damage to the home can result, making repairs extremely difficult.

Damage from polybutylene pipe leaks can be expensive, in some cases more than the original cost of the house. Insurance companies sometimes cancel or refuse policies for homes with known poly piping problems, and it is difficult to market a home that has such an unreliable plumbing system.

How to Tell If You Have Poly

Exterior – Polybutylene underground water mains are usually blue, gray or black. It is usually 3/4″ or 1″ in diameter, and it may be found entering your home at the meter (if located inside) or where the main shutoff valve is located.

Interior – Interior polybutylene pipes are typically gray in color and are usually visible by your water heater and leading to sinks and toilets. In many cases, polybutylene and copper was used in combination, so even though you may see copper pipe coming out of the wall, polybutylene may still be in place behind your walls and ceilings.

Will the Pipes Fail?

It has been reported that the additives used in fighting bacteria, like chlorine, attack parts of polybutylene pipe and fittings leading to cracking and ultimate failure of the system. Unfortunately there’s a misconception that if your pipes haven’t leaked yet, they never will. This is not true. The longer polybutylene is in use, the greater the chance of having a major leak. Polybutylene pipe with plastic fittings or metal fittings will eventually fail. It is believed that other factors including improper installations can contribute to the failures of polybutylene piping.

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How long does the polybutylene replumb take?

A: An average home will take from 5 to 8 days including all drywall patching and re-painting, depending upon the layout of the home.

Q: Which replacement pipes do you recommend?

A:We highly recommend replacing your PB pipes with CPVC. We use the FlowGuard Goldbrand exclusively. CPVC piping has been around for over 50 years. It is an off-white “plastic” pipe. It is quiter than traditional copper pipes and come with a manufactures 25-year warranty. However, we will re-pumb your home using traditional copper pipes. With copper, the cost of the project will be at least $500 to $1,000 higher, depending on which grade of copper is selected.

Q: Would my water be turned off through the entire polybutylene Replumbing job?

A: No, only during the days of the plumbing phase while we are installing the new piping system. We make sure the water service would be restored each evening.

Q: Will I be able to stay in my home during the process of your polybutylene RePlumbing project?

A: Yes, you will be able to go about your daily routine. We do use plastic sheathing and put down drop clothes to reduce the dust to just the areas we are working.

Q: Do we need to be home during the process of your RePlumbing?

A: No, we would just need to arrange access to your home, and our crew will lock up at the end of the day. Our crews are employees. As a licensed contractor, we are bonded and insured.

Q: Does the polybutylene replumbing process require a permit?

A: We provide all permits and inspections from the local jurisdiction, and the cost of the permits is included in our estimate.

Q: What will I need to do prior or during the polybutylene re-plumbing?

A: You will need to remove any items from under your sinks and remove any fragile items, pictures, electronics, “nick-nacks” from the work areas. We ask for you to remove any furniture and rugs that are easily moved. We will cover or move any heavy items. The estimator will inform you in which areas that we will be working.

Q: If I have any questions before, during or after the replumbing, whom would I speak with?

A: The technician on the job or you can call the office at 301-881-8660 and you will be connected to someone that will be able to answer your questions and concerns.

Q: Will there be any dust or debris that I should be concern about or would it interfere with my normal routine, while I am at home?

A: We do our best to try not to interrupt your normal routine, and we do clean up our work area at the end of each day. However, the job does include working with drywall. So, there will be some dust. We do our best to minimize the dust and make sure to be respectful of you and your family.

Q: How will you get to the piping?

A: We will cut access holes in the walls and ceilings only as it is necessary to access the pipes for removal and installation. Roughly sections of 2 x 2 are removed as necessary. The estimator will walk you through where we will need to remove the drywall and how much drywall you can expect to be removed. Our drywallers do an excellent job of finishing.

Q: Can a start date and completion date be arranged?

A: Yes, we can assure you of a start and completion date, however, due to the inspection scheduling of the local authority, we can be delayed by as much as a day due to their inspection process.

Q:Once the re-plumbing is completed, will I be able to winterize my outside hose bibbs?

A: Follow these simply steps to assure you will not have fozen pipes:

• Close the hose bibb valve inside
• Remove any garden hose connected to the bibb.
• Open the hose bibb (leave it open)
• Drain vaccuum breaker (located on the hose bibb, exact location will vary with manufacturer)
• Open bleed valve on inside hose bibb valve.
• Look for the “HOSE BIBB TAG” attached to the inside valve for these instructions as well.

Q:Can you do some other painting or plumbing while you are here?

A: Yes, we offer a full range of plumbing services, as well as interior drywall and painting services. In fact, you’ll save time and money by scheduling other work while we are already at your home.

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