Polybutylene pipe?

[Barista]

Any horror stories?
A friend is looking at homes from the 80s and 90s and poly seems to be everywhere.

Just wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with poly in their home.

 

[adele]

what is poly?

 

[Del Shannon]

what is poly?

Joyce,
Polybutylene pipe was used for water lines in the 1980's and 1990's. Poly is more prone to leaking, and there was a lawsuit over it. Thousands of homes in the triangle have polybutylene. Some homeowners replace it even if it never leaked.

 

[adele]

Joyce,
Polybutylene pipe was used for water lines in the 1980's and 1990's. Poly is more prone to leaking, and there was a lawsuit over it. Thousands of homes in the triangle have polybutylene. Some homeowners replace it even if it never leaked.

thanks, del
is it plastic?

 

[Del Shannon]

thanks, del
is it plastic?

Yes, polybutylene is plastic pipe that was joined to plastic or metal fittings by crimping rings on it.

 

[He's got game]

PB isnt so bad. But if you ever have a leak change it all out.

 

[Ronnie]

Plastic fittings = "bad" Brass fittings = "Not as bad."

 

[Barista]

Plastic fittings = "bad" Brass fittings = "Not as bad."

Why do you say that? Just asking.

 

[Ronnie]

Why do you say that? Just asking.

PB with plastic fittings had more problems. Metal fittings improved the pipe's performance.

 

[adele]

how much would it cost to replace the pipes?

 

[Ronnie]

how much would it cost to replace the pipes?

$5000 or more, with sheetrock and paint repair.

 

[adele]

$5000 or more, with sheetrock and paint repair.

thanks ronnie.

 

[Peaches Delight]

Is this only 1980's houses with polybutylene pipes?

 

[Chuck Finley]

Friends had their house replumbed. They have a slab foundation, and the plumbers ran all the new water lines through the attic. They used pex to replace the polybutylene.
Smaller house and they paid about $4800, I think. Drywall and painting included.

 

[Avril]

We are looking at a house from 1995. How would we know what kind of plumbing it has? Are they all poly stuff?

 

[The Turk]

We are looking at a house from 1995. How would we know what kind of plumbing it has? Are they all poly stuff?

Have your agent check it out for polybutylene. Otherwise, your home inspector will identify what they are but you have to pay for that.

 

[Morrisville Mark]

Our agent showed us the difference between the old polybutylene fittings and the new polybutylene fittings. It was helpful, but we ended up buying a newer home in Morrisville. No poly pipes here!

 

[Chuck Finley]

Ditto this!

 

[The Turk]

Our agent showed us the difference between the old polybutylene fittings and the new polybutylene fittings. It was helpful, but we ended up buying a newer home in Morrisville. No poly pipes here!

That approach works too. Polybutylene isn't the end of the world, but if you don't hae to have polybutylene pipes why have the worry?

 

[Good Wife]

Most homes we can afford have polybutylene pipes. We'll deal with it to get something we can afford in a neighborhood we love.