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Polybutylene
Water Pipe & Fitings
Main
| Info | About |
Replacing | Recognizing
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Polybutylene is a plastic like material known as a polymer.
This material was widely used for plumbing in millions of
homes between 1978 and 1995. Polybutylene was eventually found
to be defective. Hundreds of thousands of homes plumbed with
polybutylene have experienced leaks and those that haven't
will.
The ease of installation of Polybutylene Pipe, made this material
a great cost savings in construction and therefore was installed
in many new homes built between 1978 to 1995.
Due to many leaks associated with Polybutylene, a lawsuit
was entered into to cover replacement cost. This lawsuit became
a class action claim and to this date over 1 billion dollars
have been set aside to help defer these costs.
Whether you are covered in this lawsuit or not, the threat
of polybutylene water leaks are real.
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Polybutylene Information
Main
| Info | About |
Replacing | Recognizing
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For Information related to Polybutylene piping and your rights
associated with any financial relief, please follow the links
below:
Spencer Class Action Lawsuit:
A class action lawsuit developed to reimburse a partial amount
of money to those who have a piping system with acetyl plastic
fittings.
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Polybutylene Resource
Main
| Info | About |
Replacing | Recognizing
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• Between 6 million and 10 million homes were plumbed
with polybutylene
• Polybutylene leaks are unpredictable, without warning
or symptoms
• In some cases, damages from Polybutylene leaks have
been as expensive is the original cost of the house
• Insurance companies are beginning to cancel policies
with leak claim history and will not issue new policies for
homes with existing Polybutylene
• Manufacturers of Polybutylene Resin have settled a
class action lawsuit to pay a minimum sum of $950 million
to replace polybutylene pipe.
• The claim deadline is estimated to occur in the year
2007.
• Denial of claims has surpassed the 50% mark.
• Polybutylene piping in your home reduces its appeal
on the real estate market.
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Polybutylene Replacement
Main
| Info | About |
Replacing | Recognizing
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Re-piping your home CAN be a traumatic experience, UNLESS
you hire someone who specializes in re-piping to do your home.
Most plumbing companies do not repair drywall, concrete or
other finishing work and their price will reflect this. Another
reflection of this inability will be their definition of plumbing
access.
• Avoid companies who quote "drywall and paint not
included".
• Avoid companies who talk of "KNOCKING out Holes
in the wall" and "TEARING up Floors".
• A re-piping specialist will carefully CUT access holes
in inconspicuous places.
• A re-piping specialist will tediously map out the repipe
route to minimize any damage to your home.
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Recognizing Polybutylene
Main
| Info | About |
Replacing | Recognizing
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•
Polybutylene pipe is easy to recognize in its two most popular
forms.
• Outdoor (yard service) polybutylene is mainly Blue
in color hence it's nickname Poly-blue. * Most yard service
pipe is hidden from view (it's buried!) and unless a leak
is noted, the majority of homeowners are unaware of its presence.
• Sometimes due to Poly-blues' ease of installation;
copper or cpvc was "stubbed" from the meter and
out of the ground to the house and connected in between with
Poly-blue.
• Interior Poly pipe is usually gray in color.
• Interior poly was connected with both gray plastic
fittings and copper insert fillings.
• Sometimes polybutylene is visible at the connections
of your sinks and water heaters.
• Some companies used copper "stub outs" through
the walls and the polybutylene is concealed in the wall.
•
The "Best" method to determine if your home has
Polybutylene is to have a Qualified plumber or home inspection
agent inspect your home.
• Even an Inspector will NOT be able to determine if
the Polybutylene in your home will leak or not.--------------------------------------------
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