As a home inspector,
I often run across polybutylene plumbing.
Home buyers and home owners
always ask, “Is it a problem?” The facts are polybutylene pipes have an
unusually high rate of failure under normal operating loads. Deterioration linked to water additives like chlorine
and fluorides react with the polybutylene piping and acetal (a strong stiff
plastic) fittings causing them to scale and flake and become brittle. Micro-fractures result and the basic
structural integrity of the system is reduced. The system becomes weak and may fail without
warning causing damage to the building structure.
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| Acetal fitting shows signs of flaking |
Polybutylene is a form of plastic
resin that was used extensively in the manufacture of water supply piping from
1978 until 1995. Due to the low cost of the material and ease of installation,
polybutylene piping systems were viewed as "the pipe of the future"
and were used as a substitute for traditional copper piping.
- Polybutylene pipe is grey, black or blue. Interior polybutylene plumbing is almost always grey and exterior polybutylene plumbing is mostly blue.
- Polybutylene pipe was installed and manufactured from the late 1970's till the mid-1990's, however, stockpiles of polybutylene pipe at supply vendors, such as supply risers were still known to be available up to 1999.
- The most common sizes for polybutylene pipe are 3/8", ½", ¾" and 1".
- Polybutylene piping was easy to install and often used as a replacement for copper.
- Polybutylene was often routed through the attic, a disaster in waiting.
- Polybutylene piping was used for both residential and commercial water distribution piping.
- Polybutylene pipe connectors can be copper, brass, or plastic. The connector types are barbed with a crimp ring or compression with a plastic or metal ferrule.
Polybutylene pipe with plastic fittings or
metal fittings will ultimately suffer damage; polybutylene piping is not
reliable under any circumstances. If a pipe has been leaking for some time
without the knowledge of a homeowner, severe structural damage to the home can
result, making repairs extremely difficult.
Damage from polybutylene pipe leaks can be costly, in some
cases more than the original cost of the house. Insurance companies require a home inspector
to note any polybutylene plumbing on a four point inspection report. Policies may be cancelled or refused for homes
with known polybutylene problems, and it is difficult to market a home that has
such an unreliable plumbing system.
You can get a good deal when purchasing homes with
polybutylene plumbing but have a plumber estimate the cost to replace the
plumbing. Factor in the cost of
replacement of the plumbing system into the offer for the property. Make sure you replace the plumbing system sooner
than later. Polybutylene may be stable
for years or it my burst at any time.
In the opinion of this home inspector, the only good
polybutylene is no polybutylene.
Polybutylene is unstable and could burst at any time.
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Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home
Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake
Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home
in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect
the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from
their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
First Choice Home Inspections
Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida
(386) 624-3893
Website: http://1homeinspector.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn
