Polybutylene Replacement By Dan Jape
During the late 70’s to the mid 90’s, polybutylene was the preferred piping material for builders of new homes and businesses. It was easy to install, cheap and could be installed quickly. Poly was considered to be the future of all water pipe for new home construction all across the country.
Unfortunately, after ten years of usage, polybutylene water pipes started to fail due to the breakdown of the piping caused by sensitivity to chemicals used in the municipal water supplies in different communities. Overtime, these chemicals, chlorine in particular, began to attack the polybutylene piping and fittings which led to catastrophic pipe failures around the country causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage!
Polybutylene pipes are gray or blue in color and one can detect them near their water heater or leading to their sinks or toilets. If you find you have polybutylene pipes in your home, especially if your home is more than 10 years old, call Reliable right away. The question is not “if” the poly piping will fail, but “when” the poly piping will fail.
You Will Need Polybutylene Replacement
Virtually all the poly piping put in homes has failed or will fail soon, so it’s imperative you have it replaced as soon as possible! Even if your poly pipes are still going strong after 10 years, don’t get overconfident and think you’ve dodged the bullet. It is only a matter of time before you find a problem!
Some of the risks associated with polybutylene pipes include:
- Flooding
- Mold growth from undetected leaks
- Increased insurance premiums or cancelled insurance coverage
- Ruined furniture and belongings
- Destroyed hard wood floors and tile floors
The risks extend beyond damage to your home. Selling a home with poly piping is becoming more difficult as many mortgage lenders are refusing to lend money for homes with polybutylene piping. Most of the time, real estate agents leave it up to buyers and sellers to negotiate the terms of polybutylene replacement, so if you’re planning on selling your home, it might be a good idea to contract to have the poly replaced first so it does not possibly interfere with a sale.
Call Reliable Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical Today!
Polybutylene piping replacement can be very disruptive and there is a fair amount of work to be performed, but it’s absolutely necessary in order to protect your home from potentially severe damage. If you need polybutylene replacement, call Reliable today! Our state license plumbers will perform with the highest level of professionalism, and we will do everything we can to ensure your polybutylene replacement goes smoothly and is as minimally invasive as possible. Call Chris McKinney, plumbing manager today!