What do you do if your house has polybutylene pipes?

The repipe process can be costly, but your homeowners policy or home warranty may help pay for the replacement. Your plumber will remove all of the polybutylene and replace it with copper or durable PVC, including adapters and valves on appliances. You may also need to upgrade to new risers, manifolds and fittings.

Does all polybutylene pipe failure?

Not true. In most cases it takes years for polybutylene systems to fail. While it may leak within a few years of installation, the majority of leaks start to occur in the 10-15 year time frame. Of the homes we work in that have had a leak, about 80\% had some form of structural damage.

Is it necessary to replace polybutylene?

Be aware that many polybutylene piping systems used copper fittings, meaning even if you see copper in your home, it doesn’t mean your entire system is made from copper. Once leaks are found, the best course of action is to replace and repipe the entire system.

What is the life expectancy of polybutylene pipe?

While nationally the average life of polybutylene (“poly”) pipes is 26 years, in states like North Carolina and Virginia, poly pipes are failing up to ten years earlier.

Does a seller have to disclose polybutylene pipes?

Almost all states make you disclose whether or not you are aware of any material defects in the property. Polybutylene pipes would qualify as a material defect. Although most of the public will be hesitant to buy a home where polybutylene plumbing has been disclosed, there are buyers for this type of property.

How bad is polybutylene piping?

Research suggests that polybutylene pipes are too fragile to withstand common disinfectants found in the public water supply and will quickly become brittle and crack from the inside out. Leaks in polybutylene pipes that are located underneath your home can cause severe structural damage to a home or building.

How does polybutylene pipe fail?

Unfortunately, polybutylene proved to be disastrous. It turns out that the plastic used reacts to oxidants and disinfectants in public water supplies, like chlorine. The result is scaling and flaking from within that creates microfractures in the pipes that will eventually burst.

Can polybutylene pipes last 30 years?

How long do PB (polybutylene) pipes last? You can expect PB (polybutylene) pipe to last less than 30 years. It has not been manufactured since the mid-1990s, is no longer approved by the building codes, and failure as early 10 years led to class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers.

How much does it cost to Repipe a house?

Copper is the most expensive piping material available, prices ranging from $5,000 up to $20,000 to repipe a house. While copper piping is durable, the material is rigid – driving up the cost….

Pipe Material	Cost Per Foot
CPVC	$0.50 – $1
PEX	$0.50 – $2
Copper	$2 – $4

Can I get insurance with polybutylene pipes?

Let’s start with the simplest answer: no. In general, polybutylene pipes are not covered by homeowners insurance. Most homeowners insurance companies view polybutylene pipes as too liable to burst and cause damage, and so they don’t provide coverage.

How many homes have polybutylene pipes?

As many as 6 million houses and mobile homes built from 1978 to 1996 used some type of polybutylene piping, according to industry estimates, and many still have it. In the Washington area, there are an estimated 40,000 such homes. Some, but not all, of the houses have had leaks.