If your home is plumbed with polybutylene pipe, you are probably wondering what to do next. The conventional wisdom is to have all of the polybutylene pipe replaced with new PVC, CPVC, PEX or copper pipe and that may be the best alternative, but take a few minutes to explore your options before you start tearing out the old plumbing.
Polybutylene pipe was installed in millions of American homes built starting in the 1970’s and ending in the early 1990’s. Initially hailed as an inexpensive, easy to work with alternative to copper pipe, it was later discovered that polybutylene pipe reacted to the chlorine in the public drinking water supplies. Exposure to chlorine caused the pipe to split.
The majority of homes have had their polybutylene pipes replaced, but there are still hundreds of thousands if not millions of homes with polybutylene pipe installed. If your home is one of these and has not developed leaks in the pipes, you may have some time before you need to deal with the problem. If you are on a well or your municipal water supply has a low level of chlorine, your pipes may not cause problems for years.
On the other hand, if your pipes have started to leak, then you will need to take action soon. Fixing a leaking polybutylene pipe is a temporary solution because the rest of the plumbing will begin leaking soon. You may be able to put off a polybutylene pipe replacement for a year or two, but a complete residential repiping is the only way to prevent future leaks.
One thing to consider is that your insurance company may deny any water damage claims due to leak water pipes once the initial problem has been discovered. A plumbing contractor who specializes in commercial and residential repiping can help you make the right decision.
