One Man Shop or Larger Plumbing Contractor: Pros and Cons

February 1st, 2013 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
Comments Off on One Man Shop or Larger Plumbing Contractor: Pros and Cons

When you hire a plumbing contractor, it can be hard to tell from their advertising how large of a firm the company name represents. There are plenty of one-man shops where the licensed plumber is the owner, operator and assistant, all rolled into one. There are also large corporate plumbing contractors that have dozens of licensed plumbers working for them. In between those two ends of the spectrum are mid-range contractors who have a significant number of employees but are still in the small business category range.

There is no best answer as to whether you are better off hiring a small plumbing contractor or bigger one. However, there are some pros and cons to take into consideration as you are making the decision.

If you are looking for someone you can rely on to show up for a service call whenever you happen to need them, a one-man shop may not be the best choice. Even though the plumber may be extremely dependable, one man can only be in one place at one time. If he’s a high quality professional, his services will be in big demand. He may not always be available when you need him.

Another negative aspect of a one-man shop is speed and efficiency. The more hands available to work on a project, the faster it will get done. This is particularly true for big jobs like a polybutylene pipe replacement or septic to sewer conversion.  If your plumber has to make all his supply runs himself, it will slow down his progress. In addition, you’ll be paying full plumber rates for all the time on your job, rather than having some of the time being billed at a lower assistant’s rate.

With a larger plumbing company, you may or may not know the owner on a first name basis, but the integrity of the owner is still on the line, no matter the company size. Smaller is not always better or the best choice.

, ,
Read More

What is Polybutylene Piping?

January 1st, 2013 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
Comments Off on What is Polybutylene Piping?

Millions of American homeowners have polybutylene piping in their homes, and may be unaware of the problems that these pipes can cause. In the 1970s, polybutylene pipes were lauded as “the pipe of the future,” due to their relatively low cost when compared to copper piping and how easily they could be installed. By the 1980s, it became apparent that polybutylene or “plastic” piping could actually be quite problematic.

Why is Polybutylene Piping a Problem?

Water supply line pipes made of gray plastic polybutylene can begin to break down and flake apart over time due to a manufacturing flaw. Chemicals like chlorine, which is found our water supply, can exacerbate the issue and compromise poly pipes even further. When polybutylene piping failure occurs, it can be unexpected and can cause significant damage to your property and cherished possessions. Faulty installation can also contribute to the failure of polybutylene pipes, which tend to degrade more as time passes. If you don’t know how old your polybutylene piping is, you may be in for quite an unpleasant surprise, as older pipes are far more likely to fail as they age. Problems from a compromised poly pipe structure also occur inside the pipe, making it difficult to predict simply from examining the pipes’ exteriors.

Polybutylene and Homeowners Insurance Complications

While not all polybutylene pipes are guaranteed to fail, they are significantly more likely to degrade to the point of causing property damage over time than piping comprised of other materials. They’re so likely to cause trouble, in fact, that some homeowners insurance companies have a policy of canceling coverage upon discovery of polybutylene piping or refusing coverage to those homes outright.

, ,
Read More

Polybutylene Pipe Replacement

January 1st, 2013 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
Comments Off on Polybutylene Pipe Replacement

Polybutylene pipes may have been considered “the pipe of the future” in the 1970s, but their unforeseen tendency to break down over time has led to a dramatic change in their reputation. These days, poly piping is considered such a ticking time bomb that some homeowners insurance carriers are opting to cancel coverage or deny policies altogether for properties that have it.

Replacing the Pipes in a Vacant Home

If you’re in the process of purchasing a new home and you know that it contains polybutylene piping, you’re better off to replace it as soon as possible and to do so before moving in. You may even be able to roll the cost of replacing those problematic pipes with your mortgage, and it’s far easier for your plumbing contractor to manage the project when your home is vacant. A plumber that specializes in polybutylene pipe replacement will usually offer what’s known as a “turnkey job,” replacing not only the faulty piping but also repairing the necessary damage to drywall and paint.

Replacing Polybutylene Pipes in an Inhabited Home

If you’re currently living in a home with recently discovered polybutylene piping, the process of replacement is a bit more complicated. All of the polybutylene pipes must be located and removed, then replaced with either PVC or CPVC pipes. They’re typically found in attics, crawl spaces and water heater closets, and are usually installed under existing insulation. While it may take a bit longer to complete a polybutylene pipe replacement project in a home you’re inhabiting, a qualified plumber who specializes in poly pipe removal can usually complete all work within one week.

, ,
Read More

Replacing Polybutylene Pipe

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
Comments Off on Replacing Polybutylene Pipe

Are you one of the millions of Amercans whose homes were plumbed with polybutylene pipe?  Maybe you’ve known about the pipe for years or perhaps you just got a great deal on a foreclosure home and discovered the polybutylene piping.  In either event, a whole house repiping is in your future, and not very far off either.

Polybutylene piping is blue or gray semi-flexible piping that was installed in millions of homes built up to 1995.  This pipe was discovered to have a defect that causes it to deteriorate and split over time.  In some homes, the pipes last for many years before they start to split but once it starts, all of the pipe needs to be replaced.

Attempting to repair polybutylene pipe is a waste of time and money.  Even if your plumber can successfully repair a burst pipe, it won’t be long before another pipe bursts.  The only effective solution is to have all of the piping in your home replaced with copper, PVC, CPVC, or PEX piping.

A whole house pipe replacement is a big job that involves locating all of the existing polybutylene pipe, removing it and installing new pipes.  In some areas such as Florida where homes are commonly constructed on a slab, the process is further complicated by the fact that the original piping is under the slab.

You can take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone.  Millions of homes have undergone polybutylene pipe replacement including homes built on slabs and there are some plumbing contractors who specialize in replacing polybutylene pipes.

If you have split or leaking water lines, or you suspect that your home is plumbed with polybutylene plumbing, schedule an appointment with a polybutylene pipe replacement specialist.  They will do a complete evaluation and explain your options to you.

, ,
Read More

Polybutylene Pipe Woes

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
Comments Off on Polybutylene Pipe Woes

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.

, ,
Read More

Find Local Company | Featured Plumbers| Find Local Plumbers| Plumbers Directory