Comments on: Why am I still finding Polybutylene Pipes?

By: Licensed Plumber

Licensed Plumber — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:57:59 +0000

Your home was built in 2002? I really doubt it is poly piping you have. It was recalled in mid 90s and reports large supply houses had some stocked into late 90s but if home you bought was new, poly piping wouldn’t have passed plumbing inspection, regardless of how cheap you claim builder to be. It is probably pex water lines, which comes in blue, red and white in color. I could see someone mistaking it for poly. Hope this helps

By: welmoed

welmoed — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:16:34 +0000

Polybutylene piping is usually gray, not blue. It could be that your plumbing is a different material. Take a look at the Plumbing Express site (http://www.polybutylene.com/poly.html) and see if anything there matches what you have. Also, it’s not clear from your comment how old the house is. Was it constructed in 2002? If so, it shouldn’t have any poly piping, as it was pulled from the market by then.

By: IrritatedHomeowner

IrritatedHomeowner — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 04:20:46 +0000

Does anyone know when blue polybutylene was no longer accepted by code? We bought our house in April 2002 at the age of 20, knew nothing about what kind of plumbing the house had (would not have thought to ask), and here we are a little over 9 years later and we just had to repair the water line because of a crack in the polybutylene. We never received anything about the “class action lawsuit” that obviously ended in 2009 and am now just learning about the piping. Our builder was such a cheapskate on everything that it really does not surprise me that they used blue polly, but if it was not approved by code and they still put it in I will have a problem. Just trying to find some answers (sorry this is so long). Thank you.

By: Copper fittings

Copper fittings — Sun, 08 May 2011 06:18:45 +0000

Polybutylene water pipes are no longer accepted by United States or Canadian building codes and have been the subject of class action lawsuits in both countries. There is evidence to suggest that the presence of chlorine compounds in water will cause deterioration of the internal chemical structure of polybyutylene piping and the associated acetal fittings.

By: John Maxon

John Maxon — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:17:39 +0000

Interesting article/comments. Like many building material issues, there appear to be regional factors (different manufactures and different water chemistry). In SW British Columbia, Canada where I am a home inspector, there has not been major issues with the copper crimp-on fittings (as shown in article picture), only with the acetyl plastic crimp-on fittngs (grey plastic in appearance). Plumbers have told me that the plastic fittings can either break or appear to be prone to separating (apparently due to different expansion/contraction rates of the two different plastics (pipe/fitting).

As with many home components, local knowledge and making an informed choice are key.

By: Inspector Bob

Inspector Bob — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:46:19 +0000

No, there is no “code” but to most they are a well defined latent defect that must be addressed. Some Realtors don’t see it that way though. I always flag them, and if a Realtor won’t put them in the inspection section I always suggest that they put them in the property condition section… In any case they are a time bomb waiting to leak…

By: sherry

sherry — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:41:38 +0000

Bob, is there a law and ordinance code requiring buildings or building code to be up to code concerning polybutylene piping?

By: home inspection morris county

home inspection morris county — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:16:39 +0000

Excellent article. I will bookmark your site. I found a house with these too – it was a nightmare.