Polybutylene has, as it turns out, a relatively short life
span, since chemicals in normal city-provided water
cause it to harden and become brittle. The fittings
usually go first, springing leaks, followed by the pipe
itself. The pipe's tendency to burst has earned
polybutylene a common nickname of "ticking time
bomb" from plumbers. If someone is home when a burst
occurs and can immediately shut off the water, it may
only result in a few thousand dollars in damage.
Unfortunately, many are not at home when this occurs,
and the damage is much more extensive.
What are the problems with polybutylene pipe? Reports
indicate that the chlorine in treated water will cause the
polybutylene to become brittle; under pressure it will
split apart. Polybutylene pipes can leak at anytime,
destroying you home and its contents. The problem is
there is no warning or a way to tell or predict that the
pipe is nearing the time it will fail. It is not possible for a
home inspector or a plumber to determine if the
polybutylene is about to fail by looking at the outside of
the pipe. The deterioration starts from the inside of the
pipe, so no evidence is visible from the outside. Failure
can happen suddenly without warning. To date, lawsuits
are still outstanding, and class action settlement dollars
are pending. To find out more, go to www.pbpipe.com.
The bottom line is that this pipe is known to be a
problem. If you have it in your house, you need to know
about it. To have this pipe replaced with copper costs
about the same as recarpeting, or a re-roofing. If you
are buying a house that has polybutylene, don’t let the
fact stop you from buying the house; these things can
usually be negotiated to both parties’ advantage.
If you are still not sure if you have polybutylene, call a
home inspector. Remember, for your protection, get a
home inspection.
A replumb is a complete replacement of the water
distribution system in a home. All pipe fittings, stop
valves and supply lines are replaced. Most replumb
jobs take around 4 days, and water is restored daily at
the completion of the day's work, ensuring the
livability of the home.
Our complete turnkey process ensures that your home
is restored to original condition, and no other
contractors are needed. You are secure in knowing
that our technicians are licensed, bonded, insured
and have undergone background investigations.
All work is guaranteed by the most comprehensive
warranties available in today's market. Some exterior
yard service mains can even be installed with a
trench-less installation.
Delta Mechanical, Inc., the nation's largest
non-franchised company, has completed over 28,000
interior pipe replacements and 16,000 yard service
replacements. In business since 1980, you can count
on a company who has gained the trust of corporate
clients such as The Home Depot, Lowe's and
Pepsi-Cola.
Recognized as the expert in re-piping homes with
defective Polybutylene pipe, problematic Copper
pipe and corroded Galvanized pipe, we use
state-of-the-art techniques and detailed quality
control. We pioneered the way repipes should be
done and have set the standard for others to follow.
