The Problems with Polybutylene
To many homeowners the onslaught of the problem is sudden and unexpected. A plumber described the situation: "First you hear a bang, then there's a sudden drop in water pressure. Water then starts coming from pipes you didn't know existed, causing soggy floors or holes in ceilings that are destructive and expensive to repair."
Polybutylene was next big wonder product; cheap to produce, easy to
install and no maintenance. Unfortunately years after much of it was install,
plumber began noticing a trend of leaking pipes. The piping systems were used for underground water mains and as
interior water distribution piping. Industry experts believe it was installed in
at least 6 million homes, and some experts indicate it may have been used in as
many as 10 million homes. Most probably, the piping was installed in about one
in every four or five homes built during the years in which the pipe was
manufactured starting in the 1970's. Most builders stopped using polybutylene in the mid-90's.
How to Tell If You Have Poly.......
Exterior
Polybutylene underground water mains are usually blue(13), but may be gray(14)
or black(15) (do not confuse black poly with polyethelene pipe). It is usually
1/2" or 1" in diameter, and it may be found entering your home through
the basement wall or floor, concrete slab or coming up through your crawlspace;
frequently it enters the home near the water heater. Your main shutoff valve is
attached to the end of the water main. Also, you should check at the water meter
that is located at the street, near the city water main. It is wise to check at
both ends of the pipe because we have found cases where copper pipe enters the
home, and poly pipe is at the water meter. Obviously, both pipes were used and
connected somewhere underground.
Interior
Polybutylene used inside your home can be found near the water heater, running
across the ceiling in unfinished basements, and coming out of the walls to feed
sinks and toilets. Warning: In some regions of the country plumbers used copper
"stub outs" where the pipe exits a wall to feed a fixture, so seeing
copper here does not mean that you do not have poly.
Will the Pipes Fail? Most experts I spoke to said its question of if they will fail rather a question of when they will fail. While scientific evidence is scarce, it is believed that oxidants in the public water supplies, such as chlorine, react with the polybutylene piping and acetyl fittings causing them to scale and flake and become brittle. Micro-fractures result, and the basic structural integrity of the system is reduced. Thus, the system becomes weak and may fail without warning causing damage to the building structure and personal property. It is believed that other factors may also contribute to the failure of polybutylene systems, such as improper installation, but it is virtually impossible to detect installation problems throughout an entire system. Throughout the 1980's lawsuits were filed complaining of allegedly defective manufacturing and defective installation causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Although the manufacturers have never admitted that poly is defective, they have agreed to fund the Class Action settlement with an initial and minimum amount of $950 million. As of 2006 it is our understanding that most of the settlement has already been paid out, however you'll have to contact the settlement claim company to find out if you eligible under this settlement. Polybutylene lines are susceptible to leakage along with sudden splitting due to fluoride and chlorine found in drinking water. These materials deteriorate from the inside out. Polybutylene systems with metal (usually aluminum or copper) fittings do not fail as often as polybutylene systems with plastic fittings, however, it is a distinction between "bad and worse" not a distinction between "bad and good". Some plumbers disagree that polybutylene or its fittings are a problem. Polybutylene lines are susceptible to leakage along with sudden splitting due to fluoride and chlorine found in drinking water. These materials deteriorate from the inside out. Polybutylene systems with metal (usually aluminum or copper) fittings do not fail as often as polybutylene systems with plastic fittings, however, it is a distinction between "bad and worse" not a distinction between "bad and good". Some plumbers disagree that polybutylene or its fittings are a problem.
In our experience unless the system is leaking we will not be identify where failures will occur. Many failures are small and inside walls. Small leaks are the most problematic because much of the damage is done before leak symptoms are visible. With polybutylene it not a question of "will it leak" but when will it leak and how quickly can we catch it. Homeowners should be advised to replace this type of piping with an alternate material.
Beware that many insurance companies will not cover homes that have this type of plumbing.Further information can be found at:
or call the Piping Industry Education Trust at (602) 966-0377
Summary of the Cox vs. Shell Oil Class Action Lawsuit
Unfortunately, many homeowners have had problems with the
Polybutylene
pipes that were used in construction of their houses.
There was a class action lawsuit which allowed many people to have their plumbing problems fixed at little or no charge.
To meet the requirements for a covered repair, one must meet ALL of the following conditions:
* You must own a house plumbed with a Polybutylene (PB) Plumbing System (for inside your house) or a PB Yard Service Line (to bring water from the street).
* The pipes must have been installed between 1-1-78 and 7-31-95.
* The pipes inside your house must have been installed using PB pipe and insert fittings - the pipes in your yard can have any type of fittings.
* The pipes must have at least one 'leak' as defined in the lawsuit (briefly, that means any leak that cannot be fixed without opening up a wall or digging up your yard).
* The leak must have occurred within 10 years of installation.
The rules for leaks inside your house are more lenient, so if you do have a leak inside your house, be sure to at least check with the the Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center (CPRC). They can be reached at
1-800-876-4698. (Note: this number was still active in January 2005. Please let
us know if this changes)
Two other types of plastic plumbing can be found in contemporary construction and considered good products:
CPVC Chlorinated Poly (Vinyl Chloride) is a thermoplastic pipe and fitting material made with CPVC
compounds. CPVC applications are for residential/ potable water distribution, corrosive fluid handling in industry, and fire suppression systems.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing is flexible, durable and proven through more than 20 years of use throughout Europe. PEX is recommended for use in hot and cold water distribution.
PEX is available in a number of colors but commonly found in red, or blue in color, is available in 3/8" and 1/2" sizes
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Pacific Crest Inspections is a locally owned home inspection company providing home inspections, commercial inspection and pest inspections in the Bellingham, Wa. area. Pacific Crest inspections is licensed by Washington State and carries the highest certification “Certified Real Estate Inspection” offered by the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) Pacific Crest Inspections conducts their Washington State home inspections according to the National Association of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics. These professional home inspection standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a Bellingham, Washington home inspection. Our home inspection standards are available for viewing under the "Consumer Information" section of our website or ask your Washinton home inspector for a copy of the NAHI Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics prior to your Bellingham home inspection.