Polybutylene Water Pipe Replacement

Polybutylene is a gray plastic water supply line pipe that was developed in the 1970’s and promoted as “the pipe of the future.” It was also referred to as “Qest Pipe” because of the of one of the manufactures. Other manufactures were Vanguard and Bow. At the time, the perceived advantages of poly were the low cost over copper and the ease of installation. But in the 1980’s structures with poly started reporting leaks. And when poly pipes were replaced, it was noticed that the interior walls of the pipes and fittings were breaking down and flaking apart. We have done thousands of Polybutylene Pipe replacements and have been one of the plumbers selected by Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center for the whole house removal and replacement of Polybutylene Water Pipe in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. We will replace all Polybutylene water pipe along with patching and repainting all drywall that was accessed in the process.

Why replace your PB pipes? PB pipes will leak without any warning causing thousands of dollars in damage. The average PB pipe starts to leak after nine years. The problem with PB pipes and the reason for their replacement comes from the fact that there are oxidants in the water. Because of oxidants such as chlorine in the water, PB pipes develop very small cracks and leaks, that, while invisible to the naked eye, can cause a great deal of damage and problems if not cared for the in the proper manner. The older the pipes the more likely they are to fail. With polybutylene it is not a question of IF you will have a failure but a question of WHEN you will have a failure. It is important that you become pro-active in your efforts to prevent failures and the damage one failure can cause to your home.

Re-piping is a project that most home owners do not welcome, the fact of the matter is….it can be costly and somewhat disrupting to normal everyday life. But the benefits greatly outweigh the drawbacks of having the potential of more leaks that can ruin your home and its furnishings. Most customers decide to replace the Polybutylene pipe with the advandages of FlowguardGold CPVC

The presence of polybutylene pipe can severely affect a home’s value on the real estate market. Poly pipe generally takes 10-15 years to begin to show signs of severe deterioration; therefore it is important to know what problems can be caused by its presence, and what can be done about it before it does pose a risk.

Check Your Pipes

The most effective way of identifying polybutylene pipe is to have your plumbing inspected by a licensed professional. While inspectors generally cannot determine if there is deterioration in poly piping, licensed plumbers can confirm if you have poly piping installed in your home. Typical characteristics of polubutylene piping include:

Blue, gray, or black color
½” to 1″ diameter

Poly piping can be used anywhere in the home’s plumbing system – usually its presence can be ascertained by checking the attachments under household sinks, near hot water heaters, or leading into toilets. Following is a list of common places you may inspect for the presence of poly piping:

Interior:

Entering the water heater
Crossing basement ceilings
Feeding sinks, toilets, and bathtubs

Exterior:

Entering the home through basement walls, etc
Attached to your home’s main water shutoff valve
Attached to your home’s water meter (often a copper pipe at a water meter will be attached to poly pipe somewhere underground, so it is wise to check both ends of the pipe)

Note: Not all polybutylene piping systems use polybutylene fittings; some use copper. Therefore, if you see copper fittings on a pipe, it does not indicate that you do not have poly piping.

Another important area where poly piping may have been installed is the incoming water supply line to you house. If this incoming pipe is a light blue plastic pipe, it is likely that you have a type of poly pipe informally called “Big Blue”. This pipe is extremely prone to failure and unexpected bursting. If you have this type of pipe as an incoming water supply line, it is recommended that you have it replaced as soon as possible.

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