Replacing Polybutylene Pipe

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
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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.

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Fixing Leaky Qest Plumbing

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
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If you are experiencing problems with leaky Qest (often called Quest) plumbing in your home, you should consult with a plumbing contractor with experience in polybutylene pipe replacement before spending any money repairing your old Qest pipe.  Qest was a brand name for a type of polybutylene pipe that was taken off the market in the mid 1990’s.  Until then it was used in millions of American homes and manufactured homes for the hot and cold water lines and the water supply line from the meter to the home.

Qest hot and cold polybutylene pipes are usually grey although you may find some silver or black polybutylene pipes.  The water supply line is usually blue but can be gray or black.  If you suspect that you have Qest or any other type of polybutylene pipe, have it inspected by a professional plumber.  It is easy for a homeowner to confuse defective polybutylene pipe with modern PEX pipe.

Polybutylene pipe is no longer on the market because it tended to fail at a very high rate.  Early failures were experienced at the fittings, but later the pipes themselves began to fail.  It was discovered that chlorine in the water reacted with the pipe and caused it to break down.

Several class action lawsuits over the defective pipes were settled years ago.  Unfortunately, if you have not already filed a claim it is probably too late to join the settlement.

Repairing polybutylene pipe is a short term solution because it will soon fail again.  The only permanent solution is to have all of the piping replaced by a plumbing contractor that specializes in residential repiping.  Most plumbers can probably handle the job, but a specialist will have learned techniques for replacing the pipes with minimal damage to your home.

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Polybutylene Pipe Woes

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Polybutylene Pipe
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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.

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Is Your Plumber Insured?

January 9th, 2011 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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Whenever you need to find a good, reputable plumber to handle a plumbing issue at your home, you should always make sure that the plumber has adequate liability and workers compensation insurance.   Whether your plumbing problem is a small job like a clogged toilet or faucet replacement, or a big job such as a complete residential repiping or water service line repair, there is always the potential for something to go wrong and if your plumber is not insured, you could wind up on the hook for the damages.

A reputable plumber will have both workers compensation insurance and liability insurance.  If a worker is injured while working at your home, the workers compensation insurance will cover it.  If there is an accident that causes any damage to your property or your neighbor’s property, then the plumber’s liability insurance will kick in.

You may think that insurance is not really necessary because how much damage can a bad plumbing job do.  You would be surprised.  Suppose your plumber is installing a new water service line and accidently cuts through the electrical wires serving your neighborhood.  Or suppose a leak in your new water service line goes unnoticed until it erodes the neighbor’s foundation.

Both of these scenarios seem unlikely, but they have happened before and if it happened to you, you would be liable unless your plumber has the appropriate insurance.  Your homeowners insurance policy might cover some of the damages, but you would have to pay the deductible and deal with the hassle of the claim filing process.

Don’t take unnecessary risks.  Make sure your plumber has adequate insurance before they start work and avoid any liability issues that might arise.

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Types of Plastic Pipe

December 10th, 2010 Posted in Plastic Pipe
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If you are considering tackling that residential plumbing repiping project, you need to understand the different types of plastic pipe used for plumbing applications.  Most plastic pipe for use by the do-it-yourselfer is actually thermoplastic.

PVC pipe is very common.  It is inexpensive and easy to work with.  They usual method of connecting PVC pipes and fittings is solvent welding.  There are a wide variety of adapters that allow PVC to be mechanically connected to fixtures or other types of pipe.  PVC is not suitable for pressurized hot water.  It is an excellent choice for sprinkler systems, sewer lines, and drain pipes.  PVC comes in various colors, the most common being white.

ABS pipe is similar to PVC, except that it has lower chemical resistance.  It is usually black in color.

CPVC pipe is similar to PVC, but it can withstand pressurized hot water.  CPVC is ideal for hot and cold water supply lines.  Like PVC, it is easy to work with and is usually joined using solvent welding.  CPVC pipe is usually a light tan color.

PVC and CPVC are both rigid pipes.  On the other hand, polybutylene (PB) and polyethylene  (PE) pipes are flexible.  Like CPVC, PB pipe is suitable for use in pressurized hot water systems.  Similarly, PE pipe is like PVC pipe in that it is used in cold water systems.  Neither PB nor PE pipe can be solvent welded.  They are joined using mechanical fittings.

Before using any type of plastic pipe, be sure that it meets local building codes.  These usually specify what type of pipe is acceptable for use in different applications.

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